Show TAX INITIATIVE POSES UP TO TUITION INCREASE by Staci Washington Horizon Associate Editor The tax rollback amendments amendments amendments amend amend- ments A B and C sponsored by the Tax Limitation Coalition Coalition Coalition tion of Utah promises to reduce property tax repeal income income income in in- come gas sales and cigarette taxes passed in 1987 and give tuition tax credits for enrollment enrollment enrollment enroll enroll- ment in private and home schools According to a pamphlet is issued issued issued is- is sued by the State Board of Regents the tax rollback is equal to the state appropriations of five of the nine higher educational institutions in the state Although dosing closing down five schools is unlikely and drastic there are other options less so The Board of Regents proposes the following scenario 1 Tuition increases of up to 30 percent 2 Cutting options programs and educational quality 3 To reduce overall enrollment enrollment enrollment enroll enroll- ment by students In a newsletter distributed by the Tax Limitation Coalition Coalition Coalition tion of Utah they state that the tax and spending limitation limitation limita limita- Ita- Ita tion amendments could cause an economic boom and force government to find better and cheaper ways to provide ser ser- ser ser- vice Also the coalition points out that Utah has only 1 percent percent percent per per- cent of its students attending private institutions while the national average is 13 percent The viewpoint is that the Utah Family Choice in Education Education tion Act would save a full 30 million in tax money and would encourage everyone to consider a private institution for the education of their children The coalition claims daims that this does not favor the rich since the credits are based on each student and not on income Some experts as quoted estimate estimate estimate es es- es- es that as much as 25 percent percent percent per per- cent of the state budget could be saved by eliminating nonessential non- non nonessential nonessential I essential services and adopting adopting adopting adopt adopt- ing s streamlined methods of operation and proven business business business busi busi- ness techniques Education is the largest recipient of state money A Apart Apart Apart part of the money is given to research projects Research Park near the University of Utah campus is based on re re- search The spin off companies companies companies com com- in the area bring in approximately million per year to the state according to the pamphlet issued by the State Bo Board d of Regents The rollback could have severe consequences on the economy of this area and closer doser to home If this tax rollback initiative is passed the amount of tuition paid by the average time full student would raise cally For instance if a student at takes 12 credit hours per quarter for four quarters the increase would be over per year at the present levels According to Student body President Cameron Cooper in cooperation with the League of Women Voters will be offering voter registration assistance beginning beginning beginning begin begin- ning the week of September 26 through 30 after which registration assi assistance tance will be provided twice a week up to election day 1 Y 1 JJ s C i. i 1 s' s I |