Comments about ‘Huntsman, legislators work out budget deal’

I am pround to call Utah my home. We are not always the most frugal, but we make efforts such as this to keep borrowing down without cuting a very important policy change. Any credit for self-employed people is great. I was SE for several years and know how difficult and sometime unfair it is to be your own boss. I hated paying unemployment tax every paycheck knowing that I was not eligable to get it back. A strong base of self employed people is very good for the UTah. We are known for inovation and cutting edge inventions. Let's help people who are willing to be out on the edge.

I hate to be the bearer of bad news. Governor Huntsman, you are going to need to call the legislature back into session. The "cuts" are not going to be enough. Try cutting the budget by 30(thirty) percent instead of 3(three) percent. Yes, I know its a shock to the system, but those economic problems on Wall Street are going to have a strong effect on the State, you, the legislature, and the people of the State of Utah. This is not your average everday "recession". And, yes, you are going to have to put public education on the chopping block. Sorry, UEA. Good luck! I mean that sincerely. You and the legislature have got your work cut out for you. P.S. Don't borrow.

Bob M.
Wall Street?

No, the US Gov. had the banks, by law, issue sub-prime loans. We have about $2 trillion of $10 Trillion of them, based on the last numbers I can fine.

The banks have already been very slow to provide credit to construction projects. Many problems have been solved in the last week. Solve a few more, and we will be fine. The demand is there, if the money will follow, the state will be fine.

How about giving Rep. Bigelow some credit.

By far the biggest part of the budget is education. When revenues decrease even more this year they will have to cut education funding. It was irresponcible to give so much money to education over the last few years.

Simple solution, cut all health benefits for state employees. Get rid of the bogus sick days they accrue. Get rid of their internet access and make them accountable for their time. Simple solution.

Sisnce when has the state of Utah ever made education a priority.

Those darn unions stealing money from the state to give kids an education.

Let's get rid of the union, and start cutting education dollars fast. Who needs an educated workforce anyway?

I have to laugh at how Valentine prided himself and the Republican legislature for not borrowing money like the federal government has done. Of course, Utah doesn't borrow money, because it is required by the state constitution to balance the budget. Credit should be given to those who wrote the state constitution, not the current Republican legislature.

They will be back with more cuts. Revenues will be flat for three years or more. It's going to get ugly.

From a self employed individual who struggles with paying for self employed health insurance, thank you, Gov Huntsman, for preserving this much needed tax credit.

One project that needs to be cut for sure is the Lake Powell to St George pipeline. With the housing market in shambles down here we don't need this project now. Just restrict the building permits in the future and continue to work on finding alternative water sources and this area will be fine. It's probaly to late to axe the airport project, but if not wack it too. This housing explosion in all of the desert southwest needs to come to a screaching halt. I mean Utah, Nevada, and Arizona.

...education was silly.

Public education accounts for over 50% of the state's budget (That's over $5.5 BILLION just for education)...yet they're the only ones not giving up money?

That's not going to work. You can't cut dozens of other jobs, including public safety, and keep shoveling money into teacher raises.

The legislature needs to quit taking "symbolic" hits and take real ones too. $120 perdiem? WHY? Start eating at Subway instead of Flemmings and we can cut it to $20.

The legislature could have easily borrowed money and been within the state constitution -- or they could have change the language in the con. Instead, they did a great job with a tough situation. Great job Speaker Curtis, Pres. Valentine, Gov. Huntsman and the other leaders of this state. Well done.

Re: Project Cuts 8:32 a.m. I wholeheartedly agree with your observations.

On top of that, I observe that these tax revenue projections used to formulate budgets is just a hoax. There is no money until it is in the bank. Come on! And to call less taxes coming in as shortfall is just convoluted thinking. All of this government speak which is political trickle down from Washington D.C. is so lame. And the arrogance of education interests to take what they call a "pass" on any possible adjustments in their alloted part of the budget is just part of the problem. There is no end to what government could devise to spend citizen taxes/fees, whatever the total dollar amount available.

This is just another example for the need to implement my proposal for term limits/5% maximum tax for state/local government revenues. Property tax is anti-American.

Utah's public edcation system is already the leanest in the country. We spend less per pupil than anywhere else in the USA including the commonwealth of Puerto Rico.

I agree, but it is nice to see all of these comments about how little people regard education in Utah vs. other States.

And when the economy recovers, are companies bring back jobs to the different states, are they going to choose the state with them most educated population, and bring the tax revenues with them, or come to Utah for the skiing?

After reading the above comments, the most disturbing fact is how uniformed are the people who have made these comments. No wonder the USA is now in 16th place in the world in educational achievement, and Utah is in 49th place in the USA. The USA is losing its place as a super power and if the financial markets are any indicator, will become one of the world followers not a world leader. Please get informed on the issues before it gets to late.

I think the Governor and Legislature are quite right in holding public education harmless -- with one exception. The schools and districts should be exempt this go around, but I see no reason why the State Office of Education shouldn't kick in their 3-5% cut. There is little that agency does that would not be missed. Think again, folks, and have at least part of Public Ed contribute its cut along with other state agencies.

MUSIC TO MY EARS !!! Sounds like government of the people,by the people and for the people. Utah ,you have sent a great example for our great nation. My prayer would be that House Minority Whip, David Litvack D-Salt Lake, should spend hard worked tax dollars on the three R's. READING good books,RESPECT for life,property,being neighborly and RESPONSIBILITY for one's actions. My hope would be that my beloved state of Pennsylvania would do the same. a word to the wise is sufficent !!!

They CANNOT change the language in the state constitution without going to a public vote. Yes, they can borrow, but within certain limits and only as a form of bonds for infrastructure types of things.