Tax perk could aid students

Sen. Gregory Bell is on to something. Somehow, state lawmakers need to hedge college students from increases in college tuition. For some students, those hikes mean they must postpone college graduation to work or they may not complete their studies.

Bell, R-Fruit Heights, has proposed giving students or families paying college tuition a $300 income tax credit — even if the family's or individual's tax bill isn't that high. The credit would be made available to those who earn less than $30,000 a year. Bell told the Deseret Morning News that the bill would ease the cost of tuition and may enable more students to enroll in and complete college without incurring large debt. Early estimates suggest the bill would cost the state $9 million to $20 million a year.

Bell's goal of making college more affordable and accessible is a good one. This proposal has merit, although there are many unanswered legal questions whether the credit would apply to students who attend private universities, proprietary schools or out-of-state institutions. It is unclear how the tax credit would overlay with the newly adopted changes in Utah's income tax system. Personal income tax supports the state's public and higher education systems.

If lawmakers are committed to the idea that students should not have to incur massive debt to pay for their college studies, lawmakers have the power to curb tuition increases by providing sufficient funding to the state's colleges and universities. That would provide overall relief to students, who also contend with the rising cost of books, lab supplies, room and board and other living expenses. It would be an opportunity for lawmakers to demonstrate how much they value the state's higher education system. Moreover, it would be a tangible investment in students who will be tomorrow's school teachers, computer engineers, lawyers, physicians and leaders.

Utah should also aid students in completing their degrees in a timely fashion. Last year, the state's higher education leaders asked lawmakers for a specific appropriation to address bottlenecks in the system. There are too few sections of some required classes. These shortages can delay students from completing their college degrees on schedule, if at all. Despite record revenues, the request was not funded.

These issues may seem far flung from a discussion of Bell's bill. The truth is, they're interrelated. Bell's proposal spotlights many of the issues facing Utah college students and the institutions themselves. A tax credit is worthy of debate but not to the exclusion of the Legislature's consideration of a healthy funding infusion to the state's higher education system.