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Richard Piatt Reporting The idea of reforming Utah's tax system hasn't gone away. In fact, Governor Huntsman is aggressively pushing his proposal to lower income taxes and modernize how you pay them.
The Governor wants tax reform to be tax policy a month from now, but a lot needs to happen first: The Legislature needs to sign off on the idea in a special session which is still in the works.
Governor Huntsman is talking tax reform outside the State Capitol. The KSL editorial board is just one stop in a tour meant to sway people to support him. Even more important in coming weeks is wooing legislators from Logan to Saint George.
Governor Huntsman: "My only desire is to get out and engage them in conversation, and make sure they know where we're coming from and what's best for the state longer term."
The Governor considers tax reform 'unfinished business'. 70-million dollars is sitting; devoted to getting it done. All it needs is the okay from the Lawmakers. But that hasn't been easy. The House stopped short of approving a version of the deal on the last night of this past session.
Rep. Greg Curtis, House Speaker: "Our colleagues have expressed concern in not understanding it, and wanting to know what's going on. And it's the governor who's the most passionate about it."
Here's the latest plan and how it could affect your pocketbook. It would give you a choice on your income taxes: The current 7% tax rate, with deductions; or a flat rate of 5.3% with no exemptions.
A companion item for the session is a bill to change the way Salt Lake County would pay for those TRAX extensions. Voters still get to decide on the matter in November. The special session proposal would allow the county to tap into sales taxes instead of property taxes to pay for it. The Governor says both items are important for Utah long-term.
Governor Huntsman: "We have a today. This is not a decision for the here and now. This is a decision for the next 20 years."
The Governor considers tax reform 'unfinished business'. 70-million dollars is sitting, devoted to getting it done. All it needs is the okay from the Legislature. The date of the special session would be roughly the 19th or 20th of September.
The Governor is hoping lawmakers will agree with him ahead of time, but he's not planning on it.
