State leaders urged to spend funds on people before roads

Advocates, joined by some lawmakers, called on the governor and other legislators to stop pouring money into gravel for roads but instead direct dollars to meet the pressing needs of people.

"We ought to be putting people first in this whole budget process," said Sen. Ed Mayne, D-West Valley. Citing the various needs of people like the elderly, children and people with disabilities, Mayne said, "there's no reason not to fund those needs before everything else."

Mayne was several speakers at a Monday rally organized by the Family Investment Coalition, a statewide organization made up of several organizations, including Valley Mental Health, the Community Services Council and the Legislative Coalition for People With Disabilities.

As an example of Utah's fiscal inattentiveness to critical social and health needs, Mayne said the state forfeits $8 million in federal money because it does not spend the necessary dollars on child care.

While economic development is often touted as a way to boost Utah's attractiveness, Mayne said few out-of-state residents would contemplate moving to a state where child care is inadequate.

"The real economic development is our people."

The coalition identified $34.3 million in "hot spot" health and human services needs that were prioritized by subappropriation committees but not included in the base budget as of Sunday for fiscal year 2006.

But immediately after the rally, advocates received word that many of those needs are recommended for funding by members of the House Republican caucus.

"Things are looking good for most issues," said Judi Hilman, the health policy analyst for Utah Issues.

"We are being heard and it is a very gratifying thing to be heard."

A measure to allocate $300,000 for the Center for Multicultural Health remains in a holding pattern, but sponsoring Sen. Chris Buttars, R-West Jordan, said it would be wrong not to go forward.

Utah has the third fastest growing population of minorities in the United States, but few resources have been dedicated to helping minorities access health care.

"We are a long ways from right."

One priority that advocates say did not make the cut — and will have drastic impact if not funding — is the request for $3 million to help mental health centers across the state absorb a reduction in the Medicaid dollars.