Utah faces a 100 million dollar deficit. The State Legislature is talking about tax hikes. They say they’ve “cut to the bone”.
Well, look above, and see if you agree…
Cutting “Other", which apparently isn’t important enough to be labeled as to what it is, and is currently $929 million dollars:
by 10% would save $92.9 million.
Shaving everything else by 1/2% would save another $45 million, and you are $35 million or so in surplus.
I would also go in and scrutinize all spending. I’m sure there are lots of things we need a LOT less than tax increases.
For instance, from my initial involvement in Public Education this year it is clear to me that they wouldn’t miss a few % of their budget. That new neon sign out front of the school for instance. Or maybe even, gasp, a deferred pay increase for teachers. After all, why should they be immune from what the rest of us are feeling?
A candidate for State Rep, Rob Alexander, suggests nixing:
1. Utah Science Technology and Research – $48.9 million
2. Alcoholic Beverage Control – $29.6 million
3. Governor’s Office of Economic Development – $28.7 million…
4. Utah Sports Authority $0.2 million
Utah attracts companies because of climate, community quality, labor force quality and a strong magnet of faith pulling people back to the state. We don’t need an Econ Development Bureaucracy. So I agree with Candidate Alexander about the 1, 3, and 4. I’m not so sure about the ABC… making it hard to drink in Utah is a good idea that pays for itself I’m sure.
So adding it all up… I’ve saved:
$215.7 million dollars. Easy!
September 23rd, 2009 at 7:42 pm
Thank you for the mention, Ken, and for your desire to cut government spending. Good work. However, I don’t want to cut public education spending. So, if we left out your proposed cut of that, and my proposed elimination of the DABC, we would still be cutting $170.7 million! Yay, still no need to increase taxes!
September 23rd, 2009 at 9:17 pm
Hi Rob… Oh… fooey. There you go talking like a politician.
There is nothing sacred about public education. There is tons of waste in it, and it is the largest part and fastest growing part of the budget.
Make the case, don’t hide from the NEA.
Remember… I want to CUT taxes, not just not raise them.
September 23rd, 2009 at 11:43 pm
Hi Ken. I also want to cut taxes, which we appear to be able do with our $170.7 million compromise on spending cuts.
I made the “no need to increase taxes” comment in reference to legislative leadership making comments in the media recently that there will be targeted tax increases next year.
There is enough state spending that can be cut or eliminated from other departments that we can cut taxes without having to cut spending on public education, public safety, legal, and military.
I, too, would like to see a reduction in waste in public education. I would work with the State Board of Education to help accomplish that, as the Utah Constitution vests in them “the general control and supervision of the public education system…”
September 24th, 2009 at 8:05 am
Rob – I think we are close on matters political.
Good luck with the State Board of Education. It might be more effective to fire them and put on members not in the hip pocket of the education spending establishment.
In general, I think a good dose of firing would help all of our governmental systems.
Good luck with the election!
September 24th, 2009 at 9:51 am
Rob – your remarks got me thinking…
http://www.kennelson.com/newblog/insulating-schools-from-competition-does-them-no-favor-6692