Reader comments
Utah lawmakers may face $850M budget shortfall
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Kevin | 10:14 p.m. Nov. 11, 2009
The government needs to provide an environment where business grows. If
business does not grow, government needs to get smaller. There should only be
one tax, and that is a "point of sale" tax exempting food. The
government should be last to get any revenue. Taxes collected in the first
quarter will be the money used for the first quarter next year. Taxes collected
in the second is the money used for the scond quarter the next year and so on.
Budgets will be set by the money in the bank. Never in the red. You cannot
spend it until you have it. If the economy slows down, the government has one
year to tighten its belt. If the economy slows down, the government must not be
doing a very good job of creating a healthy business environment. There would
be ensentive for the government to do a good job or its out of money.
Tai H. | 11:12 p.m. Nov. 11, 2009
If Gary Herbet touches my taxes, we'll vote that liberal out of office.
Try it, Gary...
Try it, Gary...
Deficit spending. | 5:13 a.m. Nov. 12, 2009
If the state government was serious about cutting costs they would be cutting
off the illegals and all the secret funds they are stealing from the tax payers.
We are tired of having this illegal chain choking us to death.
The only thing illegals provide to america is cheap labor that is used to put the american people in poverty and not able to get the same welfare aid the illegal are privvy to.
This deficit is of their own stupidity and treasonous acts to aid and abet illegal foreign nationals. Over a hundred thousand illegals plus their anchors in Utah are living comfortable and well off of a $15,000+ a year tax free subsidized living from government and tax payers.
Until this stops, I don't want to hear about shortfalls directly caused by illegal foreign nationals. When the illegals are gone then our representatives can come begging and complaining about tax shortages. Illegals are not citizens, have no rights, and the chain must now break or die a governments death.
It would be cheaper for Utah to erect some tent cites and put it in the care of ICE to deport illegals than to subsidize them.
The only thing illegals provide to america is cheap labor that is used to put the american people in poverty and not able to get the same welfare aid the illegal are privvy to.
This deficit is of their own stupidity and treasonous acts to aid and abet illegal foreign nationals. Over a hundred thousand illegals plus their anchors in Utah are living comfortable and well off of a $15,000+ a year tax free subsidized living from government and tax payers.
Until this stops, I don't want to hear about shortfalls directly caused by illegal foreign nationals. When the illegals are gone then our representatives can come begging and complaining about tax shortages. Illegals are not citizens, have no rights, and the chain must now break or die a governments death.
It would be cheaper for Utah to erect some tent cites and put it in the care of ICE to deport illegals than to subsidize them.
Comments continue below
JMT | 6:24 a.m. Nov. 12, 2009
I know this is alarming to all but lets remember who has the shortfall.
Government does.
The answer cannot be taking more money from the people. We are also in a shortfall and America does not exist to fund the government class.
The Government can do what the rest of us do: They can trim their budgets. Under Huntsman government grew at Housing Market/Bubble rates of over 10% a year. Huntsman spent money on pretty much everything. Now that the market has burst, let the government budget burst as well.
Herbert, Clark and Waddups, you folks created this massive budget on the backs of a fake economic period. Don't expect us to bail you out. Cut your budget and don't you dare think of asking us to pay more to cover your mistake!
The answer cannot be taking more money from the people. We are also in a shortfall and America does not exist to fund the government class.
The Government can do what the rest of us do: They can trim their budgets. Under Huntsman government grew at Housing Market/Bubble rates of over 10% a year. Huntsman spent money on pretty much everything. Now that the market has burst, let the government budget burst as well.
Herbert, Clark and Waddups, you folks created this massive budget on the backs of a fake economic period. Don't expect us to bail you out. Cut your budget and don't you dare think of asking us to pay more to cover your mistake!
Perplexed | 7:20 a.m. Nov. 12, 2009
DEFICIT SPENDING is totally correct!!!
Jeff R | 9:28 a.m. Nov. 12, 2009
They need to go to a flat tax in america. This crippiling 40000 page tax code
needs to go out the door where ever it came. If there was a flat tax there would
be less tax fraud and less money spent on trying to regulate it. Thus there
would be more tax revenue because less people would avoid paying taxes, and
there would be less money trying to enforce and regulate it. Business would no
longer need to spend money on trying to understand the tax code, and spend more
money on growning and adding jobs to the economy. Its time we get rid of the
abominating which is the 40,000 page tax code that even the head of the IRS cant
understand.
Clare | 9:36 a.m. Nov. 12, 2009
Utah has a lot of 'legal' children who need a good education. This
MUST be paid for. If they need to raise my taxes until things improve, I'm
willing to sacrifice. There has been so much cut from out district. People
losing jobs and pay decreases. As unfortunate as these are the real impact is
that our class sizes are getting to be 'HUGE.' As a person who was
unable to have children, I am really hit with taxes, but I will sacrifice for
them. I won't be teaching much longer as I have a chronic illness, so
telling me I'm just trying to get more money for myself is not true.
I'm just worried about my students whom I love so much and the ones to
come.
Class Wars | 9:38 a.m. Nov. 12, 2009
Tax the rich! Tax the Park City folks, Salt Lake East Bench and every snob hill
in Utah. They have had too much "welfare" and probably pay less in
taxes after deductions than those of us Po' folks getting by on less than
$40,000 a year. And don't forget to cut the Welfare for corporations and
the film industry. Remember folks - Warren Buffett pays less in taxes than his
secretary. This has to change. I don't want to hear them whine about how
they create jobs. Wages are flat, health costs insane, housing unaffordable.
Don't forget that! Just leave the poorest of the poor alone and start
making the big guys suffer more. Cut administrative costs state legislature and
render the Peons monry off limits.
So-Is This News? | 9:39 a.m. Nov. 12, 2009
More of the same old thing. Politicians elected by all of these good ole boy
republican citizens. Suffer boys suffer, you have been calling and voting in the
expenditures now it's time to take the blame. Why not ask the
"one" organization in this state that has bundles of money for a loan
short term? Knock on their door for a few years and maybe just maybe they
won't be so pro republican in the future. No worries short term though the
church can solve your problem with the shortfall legislators! This comes under
the heading of "bailout" and you people are good at that.
Cure for what ails | 11:18 a.m. Nov. 12, 2009
(Warning extreme sarcasm ahead. Please do not take me literally.) The solution
as I see it is for us all to go buy a brand new car or two, brand new
top-of-the-line computer, and also double up on your in-state travel and other
spending. Let's do our part to get those tax coffers overflowing.
No more Taxes! | 11:19 a.m. Nov. 12, 2009
Simple, you increase our taxes, you will be out of a job at the next election
and the tax increases will be reversed.
Anonymous | 11:23 a.m. Nov. 12, 2009
We'll just balance it on the backs of teachers.
Only $850mm? Not! | 12:38 p.m. Nov. 12, 2009
Combine this shortfall with the $6.5 BILLION underfunded state pension plan and
double dippers that will cost taxpayers another billion over the next decade and
we have a real issue.
Fred | 12:44 p.m. Nov. 12, 2009
Reality check, we already have a very friendly business tax system and that is
before they come in and negotiate sweetheart deals with local RDA's. We
also have one of the lowest property tax rates in the country. We offset that by
having the highest birthrate in the country. This creates a system where number
of users of tax money (school children) and the number of tax payers is
disproportionate. There are three possible solutions. First, those who create
the burden on the system pay for the burden they created. Second we all pay a
little more, because we believe that is the right thing to do. Third, continue
to do what we have been doing by continuing to underfund the education system,
until the system finally crumbles. Those of you who say throwing money at the
system is not the answer are correct if the system where already appropriately
minimally funded. If nothing is done this year, and schools are forced to take
another big hit, it will be the children who suffer this time. You will see a
huge increase in class sizes, and teacher layoffs. Mr Herbet can balance the
budget, but at what cost.
Tax the Food. | 12:48 p.m. Nov. 12, 2009
A food tax is the only fair way of having large families pay their fair share of
taxes for the overgrowing schools.
John | 1:08 p.m. Nov. 12, 2009
Since I moved to UT two years ago, two items in UT's tax regime have
changed. On the income tax front, we now have the flat tax, and no more
progressive tax that benefitted the less well-to-do. UT also cut the sales tax
rate on unprepared food items.
Now all I hear about is increasing the food tax. I cry foul. Why is there no discussion about bringing back the alternative income tax regime? Why are we trying to stick it to the poor and not the rich alike?
Now all I hear about is increasing the food tax. I cry foul. Why is there no discussion about bringing back the alternative income tax regime? Why are we trying to stick it to the poor and not the rich alike?
rnoble | 1:16 p.m. Nov. 12, 2009
it is time for another revenue stream---change tort law so that all punitive
damages go to government---this will supply millions and all paid by
business/insurance---
Anonymous | 2:20 p.m. Nov. 12, 2009
Glad to see that illegal/mass immigration is the key to uninterrupted prosperity
and wealth, just like Governor Hunstman and the Deseret News always promised
they were!
Wilkey | 2:27 p.m. Nov. 12, 2009
Recessions stink, but we should also spot the silver linging: they (hopefully)
force us to consider the vast amounts of Stupid that works its way into
government budgets during the boom times.
tax the illegal | 3:14 p.m. Nov. 12, 2009
for even crossing the state line!
realistic | 5:06 p.m. Nov. 12, 2009
Time for the State Government Leges to change the play book and live like the
rest of us....in the REAL WORLD!!
If you are short $850 Million? You need to cut $850 Million from your budget! I WOULD LIKE A NEW CAR..CAN I TAX THE LEGES A LITTLE EXTRA SO I CAN BALANCE MY EXPENDITURES?
If you are short $850 Million? You need to cut $850 Million from your budget! I WOULD LIKE A NEW CAR..CAN I TAX THE LEGES A LITTLE EXTRA SO I CAN BALANCE MY EXPENDITURES?
Robert | 7:24 p.m. Nov. 12, 2009
Suggestion: put WHATEVER SYSTEMS ARE NECESSARY in place to deport illegals, and
give Utahns back THEIR JOBS, which allows them to pay taxes (as opposed to
wiring all our wages to Mexico).
This (and many other ways) COULD save the state money, but I suspect lawmakers are not really interested in SAVING MONEY! What they're really more interested in is offering justification for RAISING TAXES!
This (and many other ways) COULD save the state money, but I suspect lawmakers are not really interested in SAVING MONEY! What they're really more interested in is offering justification for RAISING TAXES!
RE: Class Wars | 10:49 p.m. Nov. 12, 2009
Just to clarify, Warren Buffet does not pay less in taxes than his secretary.
What he said is that he pays a smaller percentage of his income as compared to
his secretary. However, he still views this as one example of the problems with
the tax system. He's one of the few people in the financial world
(professionals, government, and media) whose opinion you can trust.
DOUBLE DIPPERS | 11:27 p.m. Nov. 12, 2009
I could take the legislature seriously if they cut their salary and benefits
before they ever start in on state employees.
Extreme times call for extreme measures.
Let's start with the legislature giving ALL THEIR BENEFITS back to the state. Cost cutting has to START SOMEWHERE. Why not have the legislature show some leadership by gutting their benefit package.
For starters:
NO COMPENSATION.
NO HEALTH INSURANCE.
NO RETIREMENT BENEFITS EARNED.
NO "GIFTS" FROM LOBBYISTS.
Now about it folks?
LEADERSHIP or MORE OF THE SAME OLD, SAME OLD.
Extreme times call for extreme measures.
Let's start with the legislature giving ALL THEIR BENEFITS back to the state. Cost cutting has to START SOMEWHERE. Why not have the legislature show some leadership by gutting their benefit package.
For starters:
NO COMPENSATION.
NO HEALTH INSURANCE.
NO RETIREMENT BENEFITS EARNED.
NO "GIFTS" FROM LOBBYISTS.
Now about it folks?
LEADERSHIP or MORE OF THE SAME OLD, SAME OLD.
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