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Show Arguments For The 1987 tax hike was passed with little public discussion, and the people were arrogantly denied an opportunity to vote on it. It was so poorly planned it raised $110 million more than it was supposed to. The July special session corrected the mistake by only $60 million and left taxpayers with a secret $50 million tax increase on top of the authorized tax increase. Opponents to Initiatives A, B, & C, have used every scare tactic in the book The same things were said in California and yet in June of this year Californians, after 10 years under Proposition 13, voted to retain tax limitation. Vote FOR Initiative B J Bracken Lee, Former Governor Tax Limitation Coalition P 0 Box 26246 Salt Lake City, Utah 84126 Approval would: (1) Roll back the 1987 tax increases on income, sales, cigarettes, and gasoline (2) Eliminate the secret $50 million dollar tax increase imposed by mistake Costs would be: (1) The State Tax Commission estimates that approval of this act would cost $141 million dollars This would be a 5 cut in the state budget of $2.8 billion dollars or a 2.5 cut from total government spending (state and local) of $5.5 billion (1985 86). (2) Tax Commission estimates did not consider that putting money in the hands of taxpayers would boost the economy and generate revenues, thus making the rollback significantly less than predicted (3) This initiative combined with Initiative A would cut by 6 using Tax Commission figures, or by less than 4 using figures developed by the Utah Taxpayers Association total state and local spending Discussion: Utah, based on the ability of its citizens to pay, has some of the highest taxes in the nation. We were 9th highest BEFORE the largest tax hike in the history of the state We have the highest state and local taxes per household of any of the 10 western states We rank 48th in per capita income Relief now will free resources for economic growth. Opponents claim that passage of Initiatives A, B, & C will cause catastrophic damage to all government services. If a 4 6 cut will do this, what is the remaining 94 96 of the budgets spent on9 Opponents say if we cut taxes we must cut services Not necessarily so. The rollback would force improved efficiency, more cost effective ways of providing services or revised priorities Last December the State Auditor General could not complete an audit of the State Office of Education because he could not determine what was being spent on the hundreds of programs. Yet, we are told our children are short of textbooks and supplies although these essentials represent only 1 of the state budget Why arent these critical items purchased first9 Despite claims of efficiency, Utah ranks 6th in the nation in the number of government employees per 1 ,000 households; has numerous organizations not being audited (Timp Mental Health was being audited, but not effectively) and 60 of state agencies contracting for services do so on a basis. Every homemaker knows the savings achieved from comparison shopping Page 24 Rebuttal to Arguments For Initiatu e B Pioponents claim these lax cuts wont cut basic services They claim our eduiation system, roads, and economy will improve If these claims were really true, wouldnt the people who would supposedly receive these benefits support the initiatives9 HAVE HERE IS WHAT PEOPLE AND ORGANIZATIONS THAT TAKEN THE TIME TO UNDERSTAND THE INITIATIVES SAY PTA 'The children arehil the hardest by the initiatives We now spend less than any state per pupil. We dare not risk their future by passing these initiatives " American Association of Retired Persons "For many retired persons, any modest tax savings are more than offset m Medicaid losses, service losses, and fee increases Police ChiefsSheriffs AssociationFire Chiefs want to provide a safe and healthy community for Utah The passage of these initiatives would seriously jeopardize our ability to do so " We Utah Chamber of Commerce Farm Bureau Cattlemens Association " Our organizations have always supported efficient government and low taxes, but we oppose these initiatives, because they go so far m cutting education and basic services that they threaten our economic future " AFUCIO "Working men and women and their families will be the real losers Ultimately, these initiatives will result m the loss of " jobs These people realize that supporters' claims are too good to be true The Initiatives GO TOO FAR1 Please join with me and the people of Utah in ensuring a bright and prosperous future for our children and ourselves VOTE For AGAINST INITIATIVE B O Against Scott M Matheson Taxpayers for Utah 1030 South 300 West Salt Lake City, Utah |