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SALT LAKE CITY — In an example of how Utah is doing more with less, Utah Gov. Gary Herbert introduced a new multicultural commission Wednesday that will take over most of the functions of the Office of Ethnic Affairs, which had its funding slashed by the Legislature last session.
Reaction to the announcement was met with some mixed reaction by minority leaders; some lauded the plan, but others say the governor's office moved forward without adequate input.
"I think we're doing things in the appropriate way under the circumstances," Herbert said during a news conference, flanked by leaders of various community and minority organizations.
Herbert has put forward four initial areas of focus for the new commission:
- Find solutions for better health care access for minorities.
- Focus on ways to close the academic achievement gap among minority students.
- Find ways to support mentoring and professional development for minorities.
- Combat the higher jobless rate among Utah minorities.
Budget cuts preceded decision
During the last legislative session, lawmakers were looking to slash the entire $750,000 budget for the Office of Ethnic Affairs. In a compromise between lawmakers and minority advocates, lawmakers appropriated $250,000. As a result, Herbert said five paid staff positions have been eliminated -- including the office's director -- leaving two paid staff positions.
To fill in the gap, Herbert said a new Multicultural Affairs Commission has been created. The 21-seat, volunteer-driven commission will be co-chaired by Lt. Governor Greg Bell and a chosen minority leader. Other seats will include representatives of state agencies, such as health, education, human services, corrections, workforce service and others, along with chairs of ethnic councils from Hispanic/Latin, African American, Asian and Pacific Islander communities. Business leaders and two legislators will also fill seats.
Herbert said the new structure will place minority community members face-to-face with state officials, making collaboration easier. The governor also emphasized that minority leaders will still have his ear. "They will have a direct pipeline to me," he said.
Advocates react
Eunice Jones, chair of the Asian Advisory Council, said the new commission is a better platform from the Office of Ethnic Affairs, where council members were only meeting with the governor once a year. Now, Jones said, minority councils will meet regularly with state officials who can serve their communities.
Still, some advocates are concerned. Archie Archuleta said some minority groups were not consulted and he was concerned the plan was too vague.
Senate President Michael Waddoups, R-Taylorsville, said lawmakers were concerned the Office of Ethnic Affairs was not performing well in helping integrate minority communities into Utah and preserve cultural heritages. "There were some discussion to do away with the office completely, but this was a compromise," Waddoups said.
While Herbert did not talk about direct concerns with the Office of Ethnic Affairs, he did make reference to the presence of different ethnic groups competing against one another rather than cooperating.
Study was expected before decision
Earlier in the legislative session, lawmakers budgeted $200,000 to study the restructuring of the Department of Community and Culture, which includes the Office of Ethnic Affairs, as well as Indian Affairs, Arts and Museums, State History, State Libraries and Housing, and Community Development. According to legislative documents, the study called for a multicultural commission to study the department.
Rep. Wayne Harper, R-West Jordan, who sponsored the bill suggesting the commission, said he was caught off guard by Wednesday's announcement.
"The bill was designed to have a study done on the entire Department of Community and Culture," Harper said. "It was going to take a thorough look to see if we should keep the agency together, if we should go through and separate it into different functions and send them off to different agencies to save the state money."
House Speaker Rebecca Lockhart, R-Provo, said she doesn't blame Harper for being concerned, saying her understanding was that changes would be studied over the summer and discussed in the fall.
The governor's spokesperson, Ally Isom, said that study will still take place and will be ready in September, but added that budget cuts were to take effect July 1, making it impossible to wait to present recommendations to the Utah Legislature in the fall. That would leave the governor's office with no minority representation, Isom said. She did add that the governor remains open to future input by lawmakers.
Story written by Geoffrey Fattah with contributions from Nkoyo Iyamba.
