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Show State Spending to Increase $17.9 Million Next Year Slate expenditures for current cur-rent operations in Utah will increase by $17.9 million next year With (he spending programs pro-grams approved by the recently re-cently adjourned 1970 Legislature. Legis-lature. This fact was pointed point-ed out in a fiscal analysis of the 1970 budget session prepared pre-pared by Utah Foundation, the private research organization. organi-zation. According to the study, the expected expenditure increase will be somewhat less than the $25.9 million in new spending for 19M-70 which was uathorized by thio 1961) Legislature. All of the difference differ-ence is reflected in the more modest increase in school aid approved this year. Altogether, $11.6 million or nearly two-thirds of the added ad-ded funds that will be expended ex-pended next year will go for education (higher education, local school aid, and other education). This report indicates indi-cates that social services (health, welfare, corrections, institutions, etc.) account for $3.7 million of the new spending spend-ing for next year, with all olh-er olh-er state activities being responsible re-sponsible for the remaining $2.6 million of the increase. Revenues in the general fund and the uniform school fund are expected to total $220.7 million during the 1970-71 fiscal year, according to the Governor's budget estimates. es-timates. Legislative appro-rpria'lors appro-rpria'lors ar.'J conim'.tnien'.si from these two funds, on the o'.iv.-r hand, will amount to $219 0 million, leavirg a small projected surplus of SI 7 m'i-licn. m'i-licn. Fci-ndation analysts warn, however, that if inflation in-flation rates diminish ar.d revenue growth falls short of expectations cr if a recession, should develc-D during the coming year, the projected surplus could vanish and be replaced by a deficit. The Foundation report ipoints cj.t tha.t for the mcst part, the final budget approved by the 1970 Legislature Legis-lature followed closely the feudist reccommendations of the Governor. The Legislature Legisla-ture .trimmed the Governor's Gover-nor's general fund budget by less than $2 million, an overall reduction of only 1.5 :per cent. Total cost of the school program approved by the Legislature is only $432,033 (or 0.4 per cent) below the Govc-nwr's recommendation, v. i on cost is computed on the same basis. After legislative adjusl-ments, adjusl-ments, the state appropriations appropria-tions for regular general fund, activities in 1970-71 are $10.4 million, or 12.5 per cent higher than the amount ap-': ap-': h' fated for thieve fumn tions in 19G9-73. By comparison, compari-son, the study notes that the 19G9 Utah Legislature raised the 1959-79 budget for regular regu-lar general fund activities by 59.6 million, or 13.0 per cent above (he 19G8-69 level. Final cost of the school aid program for 1970-71, as determined by the Legislature, Legisla-ture, will be approximately $G.2 million higher than the U939-70 program cost. Last year, the Legislature provided provid-ed for an increased school program that boosted state expenditures for schools by i$15.3 million. The 1970 budget session also al-so appropriated $5,127,473 for state building purposes, the Foundation study notes. In addition to this regular building appropriation, the Legislature provided that up ot $2,957,000 in added building build-ing projects will be funded if there are sufficient revenues reve-nues available at the close of the present (1969-70) fiscal fis-cal year. |