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Show Governor requests study before release otf funds The release of $50 million impact funds from federal leases will not be decided in this session of the Utah State Legislature, but at a later special session, ses-sion, if Governor Matheson's suggestions sugges-tions to local leaders are followed. Uintah Basin leaders met with Governor Gover-nor Scott Matheson Tuesday morning to outline the needs of Uintah County in order to acquire some of the $50 million released to the state for impact from federal oil shale leases in Uintah County. Coun-ty. At that meeting Matheson suggested that the money not be spent in this budget session, but that a special task force be set up to determine where the money should be spent. A special session of the legislature could be called in two months to budget the money based on the report of the task force, Matheson suggested. County Commissioners, Mayor Samuel Snyder, Representative Gayle McKeachnie and Senator Glade Sowards, who met with the governor concurred with his suggestions. According to Rep. McKeachnie the issue will go to the Utah House and Senate leaderships for approval of the governor's suggestion, to not budget the money this session. "This session is too busy to make a decision on the money," McKeachnie said. McKeachnie was optimistic that the Uintah County would see some of the impact money, "if the committee gets the right information," he stated. McKeachnie said that hopefully he and Senator Sowards would be placed on the committee. Also in the legislature a bill, supported sup-ported by Rep. McKeachnie which will realign the Judicial District, is moving along and has a reasonable chance of . passing, McKeachnie said. The bill would give the Uintah Basin a resident judge. Another bill which could drain $700,000 a year from Vernal City sales tax coffer, is being supported by the League of Cities and Towns. Vernal is one of the few cities which would be hurt by the bill which says that portions of the city's sales be given to the state for redistribution. It also gives the city an option to raise the sale tax V4 of a cent. How much of a pay raise to give state employees is being debated in the legislature. The governor proposed a 10.5 percent increase which would cost the state $90 million and raise taxes, McKeachnie said. McKeachnie said the legislature has possibly come up with the money for the increase in wages without raising taxes. |