Reader comments
Huntsman unveils $11.7 billion spending plan

TKC | 1:40 p.m. Dec. 10, 2007

I'm really glad that the Governor is putting the money to good use and not giving out tax cuts. I'd much rather have the money that I pay for taxes be well spent than have a cut and pay slightly less on taxes. That's why we pay taxes, to help EVERYONE out. Way to go yo.

Thomas Jefferson | 1:46 p.m. Dec. 10, 2007

And yet another tax and spend Utah Governor. The significant annual spending increases that have occured since the economic expansion started several years ago have all been forgotten. I pray for the day when we will have a governor that will actually champion the taxpayer and say out loud "Give it back" and then mean it.

DOESN'T MAKE SENSE | 1:52 p.m. Dec. 10, 2007

Why not just give the public employees a tax cut, wouldn't that be the same as a raise.

Comments continue below

Anonymous | 1:56 p.m. Dec. 10, 2007

Here we go again teachers at the top when are the working poor those who work in state goverment going to have our day I'll bet we don't get all the money teachers get for the 189 days a year they work. Sorry 186 days

Anonymous | 2:19 p.m. Dec. 10, 2007

"Thomas Jefferson"- how much of a tax cut do you want?? There are times when we need to invest in the future. Education, Healthcare, and Environment ARE the issues. Huntsman, that part you got right. What to do about them you didn't. How can we throw more money at teachers when the bad apples still have tenure? Put the horse beore the cart if you want the quality of education to improve. More money to monitor the quality of our air? Seems like we ALLREADY know its unbreathable! Lets do something about it! More roads on which to fill with SUVs is not the answer- ask Los Angelos.

Public ed supporter | 2:42 p.m. Dec. 10, 2007

Don't give public ed a 7% increase. Whenever that is announced, the insurance company comes in and raises premiums by exactly whatever amount the governor says he will raise salaries.

Just give each teacher a $5,000 raise or whatever amount the state can afford. In reality it should be a $10,000 - $15,000 raise.

When a 7% raise is announced, teachers are lucky to see 1% of that.

I am glad to see the governor doing what he can for education. We just need to find other ways to get the money directly to the teachers where it belongs.

Wilkey | 2:43 p.m. Dec. 10, 2007

"I pray for the day when we will have a governor that will actually champion the taxpayer and say out loud "Give it back" and then mean it."

He can't afford to give it back.

The dirty little secret about our economic boom is that it's built on immigration. Naturally an increase in population will increase government revenues, but it also increases the government's financial obligations. You have to build new infrastructure, new roads, new schools, and find a way, sonehow, to provide all those new people with water, which is far easier said than done.

You know those massive spending increases for education we had? Well after it's all over, Utah's still at the bottom of the heap in per pupil spending.

One day we're going to find out how illusory this so-called "economic boom" has been. Sitting in our cars, lining up for our 2 hour commutes, we'll have plenty of time to think about it.

RE: Anonymous | 2:50 p.m. Dec. 10, 2007

There is a reason they cannot find teachers in Utah and pay is one concern; just check the national averages for teacher salaries. More problems include but are not limited to morale issues, bullying administrators and rigged interviews so that the good old boys can climb that there ladder. If the working poor want a better way of life get a degree or vocational training, there is plenty of funding for those types of grants,loans and scholarships. As for the state government are you kidding me they always take care of there own...first! The education system in Utah is rapidly deteriorating. Why don't you step in and give it a go (oops you have to a have degree or two)...you'll be crying for alot more than just a pay increase. Once again someone who has not done their homework thus leading to a grossly misinformed comment.

Tax Cut | 3:41 p.m. Dec. 10, 2007

There should be tax cut. We are over-taxed, that is why there is a huge surplus to begin with. Private citizens always spend money better than the government does...give it back to the people who earned it. Don't just keep taking more.

Thinking Out Loud | 3:49 p.m. Dec. 10, 2007

Thomas Jefferson, you need to review Utah's history. Just a little over a decade ago Utah was a revenue sharing taker, having little influence in the political scene both regionally and nationally. Since becoming a revenue sharing giver (meaning Utah doesn't run short-falls in its budget), there has been numerous benefits Utah and its residents have shared in. One of the best infrastructures in the nation, in fact one of the best kept and maintained. An education system that keeps its own (and would collapse in any other state due to high student overload), one of the most business-friendly states resulting in drawing business into Utah (and the concurrent jobs) as well as investment capital (Utah is the 2nd highest in originating investment funds and pools in the nation), etc. As for education - Utah families are the largest in the nation, and educating a higher average takes greater than average budgets and support. Utahn's like their large families, but are too often unlikely to support the increased taxes required to educate such a large student load. What needs to happen is tax increases that are not part of a general fund, but can only be used for education!

BROVO | 4:07 p.m. Dec. 10, 2007

BROVO PUBLIC ED. SUPPORTER!!!!!!!!!

HISTORY REPEATS | 4:28 p.m. Dec. 10, 2007

I'm calling my state senator and representative. This is a joke, no tax cuts, and more money for Goverment health care???? What kind of a conservative Reagan republican are you. A big government socialist is what your policies are turning out to be Governor. What a rip off! People, we need to get on the wire and call our representatives or the legislature will do just what our national members in congress did when President Bush pushed through all those big spending budgets including the medicare reform and other nightmare legislation. We need strength in our state legilature to tell this Governor "NO THIS IS NOT HOW WE WANT OUR MONEY SPENT"!

YES IT IS | 5:25 p.m. Dec. 10, 2007

"YES THIS IS HOW WE WANT OUR MONEY SPENT!!!"

Education | 5:58 p.m. Dec. 10, 2007

Thanks to the Governor for understanding the importance for increasing public education funding!

Surplus! | 6:10 p.m. Dec. 10, 2007

Surplus! What surplus? A surplus is calculated by comparing the actual with some previous estimates. A real surplus will only occur when the state takes in more money than is needed for its various needs. We need to remember that ALL income taxes go to only on place - education. I don't think most Utahns feel that too much is being put into educating our children. Until then, there is NO surplus, only increased revenues.

Mike | 6:27 p.m. Dec. 10, 2007

Hey, History Repeats,

How can it be that you can't stand to see others helped along by government? It makes me think that if you had the money to spend in your own right you wouldn't choose to be generous! Sad stuff.

Government can stimulate the economy by spending its money in the local economy - say on teachers.

And yes, it is the government's money to spend as it chooses! To be spent in trust on behalf of the citizens of Utah.

Jealous because you're apparently not getting some too? Well maybe you will, as part of the multiplier effect.

Have you heard of the multiplier effect? It is that for every dollar government spends it generates at least 5 dollars in consequential spending in the community at large.

So, would you prefer one dollar to be paid to you personally as a tax cut or to get a share of the 5 dollars to be spent in the community throught the multiplier effect?

I guess your answer will show where your priorities lie.

The Promise Land | 6:55 p.m. Dec. 10, 2007

The increase for WPU is NOT for teacher's salaries. School boards will determine where to use the WPU (it is used to meet student needs). Teacher's don't expect to see much from your school districts.

Let's fund more of our education by eliminating the tax deduction after the third child. Children take money, time and sacrifice to have. Want a large family, that is fine, but be ready to pay for it in increase taxes.

As for government spending to stimulate an economy, let's look at Hill Field. Let the Federal government close Hill Field, spend that money elsewhere, and then let's see what happens to the Utah economy. So I'm not bought off that Utah could stand on its own without government money coming in from the Federal and State level.

Utahns are greedy | 8:30 p.m. Dec. 10, 2007

I find it funny that we have people clamoring for a tax cut when our teachers are vastly underpaid. I bet these are the same people that send their 6 children to public school and end up paying $0 in state taxes. I have 4 children and I feel like I should pay for sending my kids to public school. We should remove the tax deduction for more than 2 kids. Then that money should go directly into the school system. Republicans, like myself, should be encouraging a pay-per-use tax system. Instead Utah Republicans want to pay for new programs, but pay as little taxes as possible. We should at least implement a flat tax with no deductions.

Confused by the promise land | 8:40 p.m. Dec. 10, 2007

The Promise Land, your comments confuse me.

1) Eliminating the tax deductions for 3 or more children would put more money into the state general budget--isn't it simply more money in the hands of people who are not spending it wisely? Who says that they have to spend it on teacher salaries?

2) How will pink slipping some 25000 Hill Air Force Base employees stimulate the economy? Where will all those people find jobs? Besides, Hill Air Force Base is under the Federal Government and not the state government. The state legislature has nothing to do with it.

Utah Republican | 8:46 p.m. Dec. 10, 2007

Surplus! is right. Only when ALL of our needs are met can we start talking about a surplus. We need to DOUBLE our taxes at least before we can even think about having a surplus.

The best way to fund government is to let government keep 100% of our earnings and then return to us what it doesn't need. Whatever it returned to us would be the surplus.

Thank you | 9:07 p.m. Dec. 10, 2007

Thank you Hunstman, for trying to take care of Utah's needs and address several issues!

D | 9:12 p.m. Dec. 10, 2007

Utahns are greedy:
You give one of the silliest arguments for tax increases I have ever heard. If you don't like the deductions for your children, don't take them. If you feel like you are not paying enough in taxes you can write the state a bigger check. I'm sure they will accept it. I have never heard of anyone getting in trouble for paying too much in taxes.

Surplus! | 10:05 p.m. Dec. 10, 2007

Utah Republican took a simple statement and ran with it. The INCOME tax "surplus", used for our schools, was not created by increasing anyone's tax rate. It came from more people being employed in a good economy. I didn't imply we should double our taxes, or give 100% to the government. The increased amount of revenue did not come as a result of the state taking a larger percentage of income tax from anyone.

Lee | 10:14 p.m. Dec. 10, 2007

Twelve billion in spending? That's outrageous. Sounds like big government to me. Welcome to the Democratic Party, Governer Huntsman!

Huntsman fan | 10:37 p.m. Dec. 10, 2007

I have to say, I wasn't excited when he was elected but he has proven to be a very rational and reasonable Governor. Just have to say thanks Governor for thinking about what is important for the greater good.

Riggs | 12:08 a.m. Dec. 11, 2007

Throwing more money into the bottomless pit of across the board perentage increases for teachers and administrators is not the answer to imporoving our education system. A merit system based on the judgment of a high quality group of business, educaiton and professional leaders, whereby bonuses would be paid for outstanidng work and results, would get me a lot more excited. As long as teachers insist on tenure to protect mediocre and lackluster results, they get a pretty cold shoulder from me. The rest of the taxpayers have to produce or move on, why not teachers? I would double (or tiple if appropriate) the salary of some teachers and would terminate others, those remaining would be highly motivated and well rewarded for their important work. But the system is broken and need to be fixed by a means other than uniform raises.

lynn | 8:24 a.m. Dec. 11, 2007

A thought for Riggs...merit system??? In our country we believe in an equal education for every child. In every class you deal with students that have learning disabilities, students who may just be learning english, and students dealing with serious problems in there personal lives, as well as students who are exceptional bright. Teachers are expected to teach every child. Some class averages may reflect the makeup of the class far more than the teachers abilities. Rewarding teachers for exceptional class test scores is extrememly unfair. I know teachers who have spent hundreds of extra non-contract time helping my child who has a learning disability. While there efforts have helped my child tremendously, my child still struggles and his test scores will always bring down the class average. Teachers in Utah are exceptional and they need the support of the public. Have a problem with a teacher, try talking to them about it, or volunteer in there classroom! Lets not critize those who are tenured in a occupation that gets more difficult every day!

RE: LYNN | 9:47 a.m. Dec. 11, 2007

I only wish that more people had your level of understanding about the education system.

riggs | 8:58 p.m. Dec. 11, 2007

maybe if more money were given to our teachers you would learn how to spell

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