ST. GEORGE — Southern Utah lawmakers agreed on Tuesday that teachers don't get paid enough, traffic in Dixie is terrible, and state taxpayers deserve a rebate.

"We've got to get more money into teacher's pockets, especially those teaching in the areas of math and science," said Rep. Brad Last, R-Hurricane, during a public forum billed as a pre-legislative update for area residents. "There is a great deal of concern locally and in the whole state when it comes to finding enough teachers, especially here where housing is so expensive. Many of our teachers qualify for free and reduced lunch and we need to fix that."

The meeting attracted several elected officials, Washington County GOP party officers, and a handful of residents interested in issues like public education, illegal immigration and tax reform.

Last promised there would be "a major effort" in the next legislative session to increase funding for education.

"I'm not prepared to suggest a method yet," he said. "But there will be a real effort made."

Rep. David Clark, R-Santa Clara, said fewer Utah teenagers are graduating from high school or choosing to attend college.

"That's a startling statistic," he said. "Just five or six years ago our graduation rate was in the top quarter in the country. Now we're probably in the bottom third. We need to try to figure out what to do with that achievement gap and the graduation gap."

Parents and guardians have to care enough about their child's education to take an active role in it if any positive changes are going to happen, Clark said.

"The main issue is to get this out in the light of day and find a solution," he added.

Rep. Steve Urquhart, R- St. George, whose campaign to unseat Utah Sen. Orrin Hatch was called off earlier this month, said he was "extremely optimistic" about the upcoming legislative session.

"We've had some interim difficulties coming together on tax reform and on health and human services, but that's good. That's the way we do it in this country," he said. "There are a couple of issues I'm optimistic about and one of those is cutting the sales tax on food. It's a great policy issue: should we tax food, the basic staple of life? I'm in the camp that says we shouldn't tax food."

Urquhart also proposed using a differential pay scale for teachers.

"Pay the good ones more and make it easier to get rid of the bad ones," he said. "When we fund education we should specify a certain amount should go to increasing pay for beginning teachers."

Sen. Bill Hickman, R-Washington County, said he worries that some people think state government should provide every form of education for Utah's children.

"But if we don't have the family involved, we don't have a base to work with," he said. "I urge you to become a real partner in this. We find interest in education in this state is falling and we need parental support to provide our kids with the best education. I urge you all to recognize the importance of education in our society."

Rep. Mike Noel, R-Kanab, argued that environmentalists are trying to control economic development in the state, including slowing down or stopping the proposed Lake Powell pipeline and St. George replacement airport.

"I literally believe that the environmental issues are about stopping growth in the state of Utah," he said. "It's ridiculous, the environmental regulations that put a crimp on everything we do in this country."

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