Reader comments
Income-tax revenues down 12.6%

Maybe we could get back some from the high profits the Gas and oil companies are milking us for right now!
Before When gas was $2.25 oil was $85 a barrel now oil is $85 a barrel and gas prices are $3.40 a gallon! But they arwe not being greedy like the Banks are they ! That is what lack of oversight gives you more and more greed !!!

To bad we do not have honest Business Practices anymore!
We have become just like the third world countries we no longer can stand as an example to the world! we are as bad or worse than others!

People would be amazed if they looked at what state offices that report directly to Governor Huntsman had spent last spring on the line item expenditure budgets. In the state PR office $25K for an outdoor film projector to show movies on Capitol Hill? Expensive, high end camera lenses Great use of public funds. They 'thought' they had so much money they were trying to figure out ways to spend it . . .

""officially referred to as a "recession" by Bush administration officials today""
where is the reference?
just because someone says something doesn't make it so. either the Bush administration or you.

AND if the state has less money than it expected, then it can do what the rest of us do, tighten it's budget and do with less.

CUT SPENDING!!!!!

When there was a surplus, the alternate flat tax was instituted, now that the surplus is gone,

Time to undo the alternate flat tax?

All corporate profit margins should approved by the U.S. Congress or the Utah Legislature. For example, the state could pass a bill saying oil companies can only make a 1% profit margin instead of the obscene 8% to 10% they are making right now. Can you believe government lets Big Oil make a 10% profit? Who do these people think they are?

Some software companies make more than 20% profit margin. Last year, Microsoft made $17.7 billion on $60.42 billion in sales. That's 29%! Oracle's margin was 19% and Google's was 25%. Big Software is ripping us off.

You are selective jerks D-News.

and the SL unReal can kick in a few million.

What about the state tax that is now charged on every bottle of liquor in the liquor stores? Where o where is that dirty money? I demand a list from Huntsmans office of ALL the expenditures. Publicly posted please. Where is our surplus? I smell a rat. I knew that the nations ecomomy would be an excuse for the big wigs to play hide and seek with the money. I also know that Huntsman and his cronies happened to drive very expensive cars and don't tip valets. GET GEPHART

and now who wants to vote yes to give millions of tax money to the zoo, aviary and leonardo? Save the $50 million+ or give it to more worthy and fiscally responsible causes that are in true need.

Lisa Johnson is running against Greg Hughes. She has an innovative plan to solve the budget problems. She will raise income taxes on The Rich and on Big Business.

If businesses employing illegal aliens with a taxable identity then the illegals would be paying their fair share. As it is business is making a lucrative profit because they don't have to turn in taxes they may collect from illegal aliens. Because they are illegal there is no way to identify them or collect taxes from them. With the recession in full swing it's time for state and cities to take a close look at the havouc illegals are causing on our economy in both jobs for americans and taxes for government. However, I fear government will keep turning its ugly head from this fact and just ask the rest of us tax payers to pick up the slack again. Government is also ignoring the serious impact these illegals are having on social services and welfare program funding. They are blocking out these services for the americans by stealing these funds under false pretense and lies.

Well that stinks!! I already give enough to both federal and State taxes. I don't mind helping the zoo or aviary, but there are other things that can go and we don't need them. Get the money from the gas taxes - there's alot there. But don't take it from me I can barely make it as it is. Or better yet take it from Huntsman Jr. he's loaded and can afford it plus feed his family!

Bob, you are mistaken about illegals not paying taxes. Unless the employer is paying them cash under the table they are paying taxes, just likely under your name and SSN. That is exactly why the federal government won't do anything about the problem with illegal aliens. It would decrease their tax revenue. You'd think with a dozen people filing tax returns under the same SSN a flag would go up at the good old IRS and some investigating might get done.

That is no surprise. I noticed back in Feb. of this year that my state with holdings had gon up. I contacted my HR department and asked why and I was told that with holdings went up. It was not much and I probably would have never noticed it except being on salary I was used to bringing home the same amount every month and when it changes I notice it.
So if Huntsman lowered our state taxes then why did with holdings go up? It seems like I pay more for state taxes than I do for federal anymore. I f our taxes are going to go to things like the camera's I say we get to vote on it. I for one get no use out of things like that. Put the money into things that benefit schools or health issues not trivial items.

I saw this one coming way back...

When the flat tax (beloved by the GOP because it benefits the uber rich!) was enacted I said to myself that the time would come, during an economic downturn, that the state would suffer losses that would cause them to raise the "flat" income tax rate. What this would mean (raising the flat income tax rate from 5 to say 6%) is that ordinary folks who did not benefit from the new "flat tax" but who lost most of the deductibility of mortgage interest, charitable contributions, etc. would now get a double whamy and have to pay a higher tax rate to finance a shortfall. Meanwhile, the uber rich, still are paying a lower rate than they had under the old income tax system....

Well, you get the picture. Vote Republican. That's the definition of stupidity--doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result.

The only Fair Tax is a Flat tax with "NO deductions"!

and do away with the food Tax!

Maybe the Utah Attorney General could find some hapless industry to sue the pants off of to boost revenue like they did with the Tobacco Industry shakedown (disclaimer:I don't know if Utah was involved with that)

Flat tax of 5%, but go the the House of Representative web site at utah.gov, look at HB359. This bill is where they defined the items being changed for the flat tax to take effect. Notice the disabled dependents are no longer allowed, adoption expenses are no longer allowed, itemized or standard deductions are not allowed, personal exemptions are not allowed and 1/2 of the federal tax is no longer allowed. That will raise your taxable income quite a bit, but then you only get taxed at 5% on all of it.

I tried to find the 2008 income tax return on the Tax Commission web site. When you look at previous years the income tax changes are there, but guess what, 2008 doesn't have it there, it says "other" taxes will be added as available. Say after the election! Look at your taxes last year, did you have to pay the traditional tax or the flat tax? Mine the flat tax was $500.00 more, this year reducing the flat tax to 5.00% won't make up the $500.00. But if you are rich, you save like crazy.

To Fair Tax, you got your wish. If you make over $250,000.00 you make out like a bandit, if you make under that, you're not going to like the results.