Tax-cut proposals jump a big hurdle

Transportation funding and economic development are two of three issues the chamber identified Wednesday as priorities for the legislative session. Health care is the third priority.

"It's interesting, because typically you'd see the business community crying for additional tax cuts," said Clark Ivory, chairman of the chamber's board. "Certainly there is a place and occasion for a tax cut, but right now, we think the lion's share of these surpluses needs to not go back to individuals and businesses as tax cuts, they need to be invested in those things that make the greatest difference."

Other business advocates say no to taking the sales tax off of food because individuals buy food, businesses don't. And if the sales tax on nonfood items were raised slightly to offset food-tax losses, then most Utah businesses would actually end up paying more sales tax.

Transportation was listed as the chamber's top priority, with the group advocating that hundreds of millions be given to fund roads and transit over the coming years. Transportation is critical to economic development and viability, according to the chamber.

Said Ivory: "We need more than what the governor asked for (in transportation spending) and hope the House and Senate will really step up."

"The only way to have a very prosperous economy," said Chamber President Lane Beattie, "is if we make some very hard choices now."

---

E-mail: bbjr@desnews.com; nwarburton@desnews.com