Huntsman's spending plan receives plenty of praise

There was plenty of reaction Tuesday to the governor's spending plan.

Public education: State Superintendent of Public Instruction Patti Harrington said the governor's education priorities reflect a very forward-looking budget that prizes educators and acknowledges that teachers are the No. 1 connection with student achievement.

She said the recommended 7 percent increase in per-student funding would be the largest increase in two decades.

What came as a pleasant surprise was $25 million to provide one-time teacher bonuses, Harrington said.

"But given the many years that teachers have waited patiently for increases — and have had few of them — I think it's a wonderful part of the budget," she said. "It is a lot more than a gesture; it's a significant outreach to teachers to let them know their value and encourage their excellence in the classroom."

Higher education: Huntsman nearly doubled a request for compensation funds in higher education targeted at retaining key faculty and staff. The $13.2 million recommendation would be split among the state's 10 colleges and universities to hold on to top faculty that could be lured away by better offers out of state.

The System of Higher Education's request for $5 million in similar funds last year was axed by the Legislature.

"It exceeded our expectations. We definitely expressed to Gov. Huntsman the importance of it and the relationship it has with the economic development of our state," said Amanda Covington, spokeswoman for the System of Higher Education.

Covington added that education leaders were also pleased with an $11.6 million recommendation for utility increases and $3.6 million in student financial aid.

Huntsman's budget priorities do not include, however, a $10.5 million request for institutional priorities, which include $3 million to change Utah Valley State College into a university.

Transportation: Transportation received an unprecedented amount of funding in the governor's budget, with more than $449.7 million in new money proposed. Of that money, about $100 million is proposed to fund small but "significant" projects to quickly relieve road congestion.

Another $250 million will go to help pay off bonds in the Centennial Highway Fund.

The Salt Lake Chamber of Commerce, which has identified transportation as a top priority for the coming legislative session, said in a written statement that the governor's budget recommendation for transportation was a "bold step" to help solve a growing congestion problem in Utah.

"If we do not act, experts predict a tripling of congestion," the chamber said.

Human services: Even though lawmakers rejected a proposal from the governor to fund dental care for the poor, Huntsman is trying again.