From Deseret News archives:
Businesses updated on Legislature, upcoming session
Tax legislation and transit funding could be among issues
State Senate President John Valentine, R-Orem, and House Majority Leader Jeff Alexander, R-Provo, joined Utah County Commissioner Steve White at the forum, hosted by the Provo-Orem Chamber of Commerce.
White told attendees that the county is in fine financial shape, and that is part of the reason it is pushing to take over some services that have been provided by Mountainland Association of Govern ments.
"We've found efficient ways to deliver our services, requiring only 17 employees per 10,000 people where Salt Lake County requires 49," White said. "So when the county says we'd like to look at providing services for seniors — or other programs — it's because we've become the low-cost provider in the state."
Alexander encouraged business members to get involved in government, either by running for office or, at the very least, providing input to community leaders.
"We all need to be involved in the process," he said. "We want to hear from our constituents, not special interests."
Valentine said that the past session was an interesting one, full of new faces and places.
When chamber members had the opportunity to query the leaders, their focus was on the upcoming special session and future tax legislation.
Valentine said Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. will decide what issues are considered during the April 19 special session. Huntsman wants to discuss the state's response to the Bush administration's education plan, called No Child Left Behind. Legislators can only suggest what topics are addressed.
Valentine said he would like to see bills addressing transportation funding and drug offender rehabilitation discussed in the session. Alexander said that HB18, in particular, would be a step forward for state transportation funding.
"HB18 not only sets aside some of the sales-tax dollars for transportation, but a major part of that is how we will decide the prioritization of projects in the future," he said.
That bill would create a committee to develop a formula for ranking projects in order of need.
"We're trying to make it so it's not so political in the future," Alexander said. "The greatest thing about HB18 is if (Utah County) projects are the highest priority in the state, then they would get funded."
Valentine said he is currently in the process of deciding which legislators to appoint to a taxation task force, which could produce legislation of interest to businesses.
"That task force will be given the responsibility to look at various different taxes, sales taxes, corporate income taxes," he said. "I've been up there 17 sessions, and we've never had that in-depth of a discussion."
E-mail: mdecker@desnews.com
