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(Salt Lake City-AP) -- Governor Mike Leavitt says he will veto any general income tax increase that comes across his desk this session.
Leavitt made the announcement after the Utah Senate passed a bill that proposed phasing in income tax increases over two years to generate 97 (M)million dollars for public schools.
Leavitt said he supports many of the education reforms in the bill, including more stringent graduation requirements, but doesn't support a tax increase.
The governor is continuing to push the Legislature to instead defer road construction and reduce the subsidy on nonagricultural water to pay for education. Lawmakers have repeatedly said they do not like these ideas.
The education reform bill is expected to be considered by the House of Representatives next week.
(Copyright 2003 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
