Reader comments
Operative budget word: cut

should programs with matching federal funds be cut as much as those without, doubling and tripling the hit to those agencies?

Perhaps less tax dollars financing parking lots, theaters, stadiums, and referendums on issues like vouchers. That might save us a bit of money, no?

What if Utah has to provide matching funds to receive Obama's transportation federal dollars??? Utah's transportation projects were already cut from the budget in the last round of cuts!

What is the total amount cut from Human Services including this proposal, cuts from the special session, and the matching federal dollars? What % of this budget has already been cut?

It relieves me to hear of budget economies in the State. Utah has had a balanaced budget every year, right? All credit (sorry, the wrong word).. all positive recognition is due to any and all legislators, governor, and understanding government workers and fund-recipients who would support across-the-board, or overall, cuts in the State budget.

I have questions, to satisfy my curiosity, if anyone can tell me the answers:
What will cause the expected decrease in tax revenues? Is it just less income tax because there are less jobs in Utah at the moment?
Is it due to an expected reduction in pay for the employed?
Is it a reduction in spending by wary shoppers and thus reduced sales tax receipts?

My last question is:
Will their be a reduction in State income tax rates?
In Sales Tax rates?

The questions are genuine, not cynical. Can anyone tell me?

Have the Governor get the State's dominant institution to make up the shortfall. Since the state is run entirely for their benefit, it's the least they could do for Utah.

questions:

When the economy slows, there are fewer people buying fewer things, resulting in a decrease in sales tax revenue.

With the high gas prices, people drove less, buying less gas, resulting in a decrease in gas tax revenue.

Property taxes are based on assessed value of real property. With home values stalling out and in some cases decreasing, property tax values are down. Many municipalities were counting on additional growth and put that expected revenue into their budgets. The budget is a forecast of what's expected to come in, not a spending of moneys already in place.

Corporate taxes have also decreased as company profits have decreased (again, due to people not spending as much money).

Income taxes have not met projections due both to layoffs (companies unable to employ as many people as before) and to companies giving smaller pay increases than was expected. Again, the budget's based on projections. Incomes were expected to rise; likewise, income tax revenues were expected to rise.

It may be time to re-evaluate some of the state's programs and policies. In times like this, everyone needs to learn to make cuts and sacrifices.

Income taxes never go to the State for programs - it all goes directly to education; so a loss of jobs does not have a direct impact on the budget. However, whether due to employment status or otherwise, spending is down, and that does.

That is the most assinine comment I have ever heard. It shows pure ignorance. The dominant institution does more for the state that you could even imagine.

I hope the legislators look at EVERY dept. budget with a microscope. When the dept. heads are told to make cuts they tend to either: a(cut services that will "teach the public lesson" or b(cut the "Indians",(the folks who actually PERFORM THE SERVICES NEEDED) and leave untouched the "Chiefs" who sit in offices with ridiculously high salaries! The legislature should ask the personnel office for a list of ALL employees that make, say 90,000 a year or MORE, and then start asking hard questions of the dept. heads.
This COULD be an excellent time to clean out some of the "dead wood" at the state.
It seems ironic to me that in this same article, Huntsman is trying to make mortgages more available to more people, but if they cut at the state level like I think they will, it will be the lower wage earners that will be out of a job.
I used to work at the state and I know how they operate, so state employees REALLY SHOULD contact their state legislator to make sure THEY get heard, and not just their dept. heads!

Boy are we in trouble. Well everybody ,you voted for these finacial communist thieves. You'll get just what's coming to ya!!!

I am a big football fan but I find it unsettling that a State institution USU will do anything to win even increase dramatically their football budget at this time.

Unless this new increase for coach Anderson is coming from source that does not involve tax dollars. A second point of note; today if your football team can't win and make money the entire athletics department is at risk. If that even matters during times like this. So I am having a conversation with myself! Sorry everyone.

It is times like this I am glad I vote and can place confidence "some at least" in my representatives.

RE: Solution you are an idiot!!!!

The problem is that someone needs to look at the legislature with a microscope. I don't think the legislature should be the ones doing the checking as corrupt as they are.

Pull up a list of executives employed by the state counties and municipalities. It is incredible the salary amounts for the administrative positions in taxpayer funded employment. That is the list that the Governor needs. Oddly enough he is not the highest earner, not even close. You can find it at UTAHSRIGHT on the web. You will be shocked and dismayed. I was at least.

["I wish we had a gold-plated budget to present � no such luck today," Huntsman said, standing in the lavishly renovated Gold Room outside his office. ]
QUOTE

This is priceless! I didn't notice it the first time.

Is this a case of robbing the poor (working people) because of their 'fine sanctuary'? What a gifted writer.

Dump the federal funds! Gov Hunsman wants Utah more dependent on the Federal government. I want independence. Who cares what it "costs"? Let's admit that the federal strings that come with education funding weaken education, rather than improving it.

lets build another soccer stadium

I could work, produce and consume more, but choose not to. I have plenty of first hand knowledge about how taxes are squandered at government institutions throughout the state. As an example, look at out-of-state and international travel budgets of about any agency.

The state can change taxes all it wants, the funds won't be coming from me, but from the working class.

Utah could save tens of millions of dollars a year if they cut aid and jobs to illegal aliens. Give tax paying ameicans the jobs illegal have stolen from us who pay no taxes on their incomes. Then cutting UDOT and its roads would help the economy by leaving more for more important government functions. With as big a budget that UDOT has there should be no reason for them to go out and borrow (bond) money for roads. It seems counter to economic downturn to go out and borrow money that they may not be able to repay. This further indentures the Utah tax payers and its government. Utah legislators and Gov Huntsman needs to get real in their ideas of making cuts and where life thereatening money is needed. UDOT has been a problem department for years and perhaps new management is needed that can work with a budget. The second biggest economic problem in Utah is the drain illegal foreign nationals put on the Utah tax payers in education, jobs, welfare programs, medicaid, medicare, and human services. Althogh human services are the illegals life line for free aid we cannot afford to keep giving them aid.

So much for a recession-proof Utah.