Reader comments
Taxpayers Association backs vouchers

tongue in Cheek | 12:14 a.m. Oct. 17, 2007

"According to figures from the legislative fiscal analyst, districts could save anywhere from $95 million to $265 million over 13 years with the voucher program ï¿½ but it would cost the state around $429 million."

429-265= 174 million lost cookies.

Truth will Out | 7:14 a.m. Oct. 17, 2007

It also helps to know that the "Utah Taxpayers Association" was founded by and consists mostly of big Utah businesses.

Chuck | 7:29 a.m. Oct. 17, 2007

You are "forgetting" the other end of the stick in your data. The same forecasts that predict increased numbers of kids show a corresponding increase in numbers of taxpaying adults. In fact the ratio of adults to kids will be better than it was in the 1980's during the last influx of kids. Look, the state surplus growth is paralleling the increase in kids. We don't need vouchers to save us from our kids!

Vote NO!!

Comments continue below

Andrea | 7:34 a.m. Oct. 17, 2007

Lisa Johnson's numbers are wrong. First, the Census numbers do not include facility construction costs. Second, they are for school year 2005, not 2006.

The $7,500 figure is for 2008, and it includes construction costs.

The next time your school district wants to raise your property taxes to build new schools, just remember that voucher opponents don't think that the increased taxes should be counted as education spending.

VoucherDoubter | 8:09 a.m. Oct. 17, 2007

If we don't have vouchers, Nancy Pelosi and Ted Kennedy are going to ride into town and raise our taxes. What's next, we'll have global warming if vouchers don't pass?

No cookies | 8:09 a.m. Oct. 17, 2007

The Taxpayer Association findings and pro-voucher ads are in direct conflict with the 2007 Utah Voter Information Pamphlet. In the Impartial Analysis prepared by the Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel, is clearly says once the program is implemented, vouchers will cost taxpayers $71 million per year and save schools $11-23 million per year. That's a net COST to taxpayers of $43-60 million per year.

Is the pamphlet wrong, or is someone trying to sell us a bag of cookies?

Walter Gordon | 8:26 a.m. Oct. 17, 2007

Could the media be anymore biased against school vouchers? By all accounts, this is the biggest issue in the upcoming election and you bury the story on B-4. Any thoughful analysis or debate on the issuse gets buried, but let some idiot make a stupid statement on vouchers and it goes on page 1. No wonder the polls, which also go on page 1, show vouchers are behind.

Instereo | 9:31 a.m. Oct. 17, 2007

Do you really trust the motives of the Utah Taxpayers association? I don't. They haven't improved my life. We have the lowest funded schools in the nation, have some of the worst roads in the west, but we build soccer stadiums. Passing vouchers won't lower taxes, it will just lower the quality of education in Utah. Public schools will have less money because they'll have less students and still have constant costs. Private schools won't be any better off. The ones that charge high tuition, that aren't included in the average cost of private schoos, will still do fine but the new private schools will run on less money then the public schools. I don't see how that will make better private schools. No I think the real agenda for the Utah Taxpayers Association is the normal the rich will get to keep what they have or even get more but the poor will have less. I'm voting NO on referendum 1. I want strong public schools. I don't want more tax breaks for the rich and I don't want to give entitlements for education to anyone.

David Johnson | 12:42 p.m. Oct. 17, 2007

Vouchers are great. The Public School system is nothing more than educational welfare and socialism at its finest. Public Schools aren't about students but salaries for adults, health care, and retirement packages the private sector only dreams of.

Who works 180 days a year and expects 240 days of pay like the tax payer. The trouble with students today is the bad example set by the public school system which teaches them their entitled to another man's labors instead of the American work ethic of 8 to 5 5 days a week. Public schools set a bad example and lead to a welface mentality. Where's the pioneer spirit? Money does not make a educated society, but the love of learning which is not a commodity the UEA or NEA produces.

Utah has spent billions of "educational dollars" but its pool of phd's can not produce a text book, a nutrious school lunch, or even seat belts on school buses.

Public Schools have given us bullied students, ADD children, doped up Ritalin children.

TM | 12:58 p.m. Oct. 17, 2007

One fact no mentioned is that Utah spends more of its tax dollars on Education than any other state.

Vouchers at least gives you a choice with your tax dollars. If you want to stay in public schools thats fine.

If you want to explore other options it gives you the option of using your tax dollars that you are paying for already.

Choice is the issue. Many public schools do not meet the standards that they are comdemming about Ref 1. Talk about two faced.

tongue in Cheek | 1:01 p.m. Oct. 17, 2007

So Dave, you expect those bullies, ADD and Ritalin abusers to all go to the Private schools and spare the Public schools the expense of babysitting?

If that is the case and the Public schools may eject these kids to use Vouchers at the Private school, I may be all for the best solution to fixing Public Ed--Vouchers to end public school babysitting.

Of course we are going to destroy Private schools, and all the good children will be flooding back into the Public system as the scourge of humanity flood into their private sanctuaries. But it is so much better for the majority now that you have explained what Vouchers are actually going to do.

Correct the facts | 2:16 p.m. Oct. 17, 2007

TM, please check your facts. About 15 years ago, Utah spent more per $1 of income on education than any other state. As of last year we rank 22nd, meaning 21 states spend more per $1 of income on education than Utah does.

ME! | 2:47 p.m. Oct. 17, 2007

The Utah Taxpayers Association a.k.a The Shrill, Desperate Pro Voucher Association! Seriously, did you read their last few newsletters? This group honestly expects to be taken seriously with its one-sided, all-or-nothing, approach? Please!!!

Paradoxical Educrat | 10:47 p.m. Oct. 17, 2007

We fund our Higher Education program at second highest in the nation. We just don't believe in funding K-12 though were we are 51st.

Of course that is catching up to us having to do all this remedial work with incoming Freshman to basic college entrance level, but we appreciate every penny Stephenson sends us.

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