From Deseret News archives:
60% in poll want big Utah tax cut
And GOP Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. and Republican legislators are steadily moving toward giving them what they want.
A new Deseret Morning News/KSL-TV poll conducted this past week by Dan Jones & Associates finds that 30 percent of residents don't want any tax cut this year; they'd rather have $1.6 billion in surplus tax revenue go to needy state programs.
But 29 percent favor a $110 million tax cut pushed by Huntsman; 9 percent like a $150 million tax cut originally suggested by Senate Republicans; while 22 percent like the GOP House's $300 million tax cut.
Add all those tax-cut advocates together and you get 60 percent wanting to see their taxes reduced in some manner this year.
Jones found that 9 percent didn't know or have no opinion about tax cuts. Jones polled 418 adult Utahns between Tuesday and Thursday of last week, with the poll's margin of error plus or minus 5.0 percent.
After the poll was conducted, Republican leaders announced a "soft" compromise on tax cuts. GOP senators would go up, House Republicans would go down, resulting in a tax cut of $210 million.
Senate President John Valentine, R-Orem, said that a flat-rate income tax reform bill (SB223) sponsored by Sen. Wayne Niederhauser, R-Sandy, is a "preferred alternative" among the 21 Republican senators.
SB223 would further reduce the flat rate tax from 5.35 percent to 5 percent. The measure would also give hefty, non-refundable tax credits to families and individuals.
It would cost $102 million this year in tax cuts. So, if GOP senators went with that bill, their $105 million in tax cuts is about used up.
House Republicans aren't necessarily happy with SB223, however, some saying it doesn't do enough to help middle-income large families.
Testimony before a special tax review group also showed Friday that SB223 would make Utah's personal income tax system more volatile to large swings a lot more money coming in with good times, but more cash lost when the economy takes a downturn.
The House majority likes a bill backed by House Speaker Greg Curtis, R-Sandy, that would remove the food sales tax from so-called "boutique" taxes, like the ZAP and transit taxes. That approach would cost those special districts about $20 million.
Comments
- Two American pilots die in Iraq 12:47 a.m.
- Murder suspect is vetran, avid skier 12:47 a.m.
- MLB: Zambrano's mom kidnapped 12:32 a.m.
- Lambert surprisingly tops news 12:25 a.m.
- Philadelphia transit strike ends 12:25 a.m.
- TCU 4th in AP poll; U. 16th, Y. 22nd 12:24 a.m.
- 12 high schools ready for 'The Turf' 12:17 a.m.
- RSL unfazed by conference final 12:17 a.m.
- Korver and Miles to be evaluated 12:17 a.m.
- Today on TV 12:13 a.m.
- Gay advocates trek to LDS office
216 - House passes health care bill
201 - Lobo suspended
173 - Cougars crush hapless Cowboys
151 - Utah Jazz fall apart against Kings
129 - RSL rallies to advance
103 - Thousands protest health bill
102 - Provo company innovating engines
101 - Utes pound winless Lobos
89 - BYU cuts Women's Research Institute
88
Sen. Scott Jenkins was name-checked by Jay Leno Monday night during his...
STOP blaming the Democrats, BLAME THE REPUBLICANS FOR 8 YEARS DOING NOTHING...
The best way to break the law is to become someone who enforces the law.
It's a real shame so many folks have never gotten out and gotten to know the...
It's all talk... you do not have any evidence for your claims. You assume...
Maybe if you could bat .408 in the major leagues, you too would be paid a...
I prefer the “Wizard of Earthsea” quartet by Ursula Le Guin, an...
The bottom line question that no one can possibly answer is; what will be the...
It looks to me like special treatment.
Jazz will have a tough week, with what should be a easy win against the...
I am very excited for this game. As much as I want the Utes to win, it won't...




You can be the first to comment on this story.