"The 5.5 percent (WPU increase) is an indication the governor really cares about education. We are thrilled about that," Burningham said.

The board had requested a 5 percent hike in the WPU.

Burningham also praised the governor for requesting $10 million to help ensure fourth- through sixth-graders master key math concepts, even though it's $6 million under the board's request. Ditto for the governor's $2 million to help students struggling on the high school basic skills competency test, even though it was just a third of what the board wanted.

"We feel very comfortable with his recommendations and are quite delighted," Burningham said.

In general, Huntsman said, he wants his budget to improve the lives of Utah residents across the board. For example, he recommends lawmakers come up with $1.5 million to help cover the heating bills of the state's poor, possibly matched by local utilities.

Part of the governor's recommended $45.6 million in general fund monies for the state Department of Health includes a $10.7 million increase for "Medicaid inflation." The money is earmarked to provide increases to reimbursement rates for medical providers who serve Medicaid patients. Utah currently ranks 47th in the nation in terms of its reimbursement rates.

The increase would generate about $27 million in matching federal funds, meaning an overall increase of nearly $40 million to the Medicaid program, according to health department officials.

State employees also would see a boost in their paychecks. Huntsman is calling for as much as a 7.5 percent increase in salary and benefits, including a 2.5 percent cost of living increase.

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Contributing: Bob Bernick Jr., Jennifer Toomer-Cook, Steve Speckman, Nicole Warburton, Angie Welling

E-mail: jloftin@desnews.com; lisa@desnews.com