Show A6 — The Herald Journal Logan Utah Sunday July 14 2002 - I QUtah Nott state enudls bfleaCt aDD year t I vjitDn SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Preliminary numbers show state government ended the 2001-0- 2 fiscal year June 30 with a $1314 million surplus in general accounts and an $1114 million surplus in the transportation fund The State Tsx Commission released the figures Friday “It’s good news” said House Speaker Marty Stephens West Lynne Ward budget director for Gov Mike Leavitt said some state income beyond the tax commission's monthly report such as licenses and fees were down in May and June The final audit won’t be finished until August Ward said the final surplus in the Uniform School Fund and the General Fund will be closer rr '" l Li “But it’s still a positive sign” she said considering die state has a $74 billion budget Leavitt and lawmakers had to dose a $400 million gap this past fiscal year in revenue shortfalls They cut budgets during February's general session and again in & special session this spring Last week legislators cut $73 million from the new fiscal year’s spending! which started July lr and $100 million from state building projects roads and Utah’s tobacco settlement trust fond to close an estimated $173 milium shortfall In previous budget cutbacks legislators drained the state’s Rainy Day Fund reducing it from $123 million one year ago one-quart- 1 li l I V V'1' in giving voters nearly twomonths to'! fmniiVrjtf ffiifllminM initial resolution’s ban er sion “I don’t think we shduld be putting any restrictions on the land before we even annex it” she said Zoning laws including one against casinos in what is cuirenlly Wendover could be added in a joint agreement between the two states or by a future City Council i if die towns are unified j' If the towns are merged i separate municipal govern- - H ments and school systems V1 could be streamlined 3-- !! self-insur- ed nt ge eu f f S'- ' TO SETTLEFOR (THE iREST WILL HAVE a w A T p THE INCREDIBLE1EASE AND CONVENIENCE - - ’ it self-insur- ed fit ed ' & Previously regents have considered a common health plan but proposals were reject- ed as too difficult and costly to implement on different cam-puse- s “What may be good for an employee at Weber State might not be good for an ' employee at Southern Utah Uni versity “said Webty State ' president Paiil Thompson On the itudent funding formula the task force let by Regents chairman Nolan' Kar-- ! ras agreed to pursue “weighted pupil unxt”The - y WPlfis a statewide peMtup -- dent funding formula used to fund public schools: Such a formula for higher education was proposed by a ' ” 2000 task force hut crumbled f When budget negotiations began in the Legislature Hiier education js currently funded based on enrollment growth Inxecent yeqrs the J : legislature has not fiiUy fimdv ed increased nufobersoif stu- -i dents forcing institutions tal absorb the shortfall i-'- ’ - iL ‘T pants ' f ' tWiawMi W US US MnU(2ii Safe UiiMiWa w s w a irtw Hi mwir M Sunk INWiMkHMiMUlBCNa Vfr ’ a - r iKtil if mtn H imixtir tilwilMUfSMIi atwawScluirMlta W wwli ST Mill MknrtSHiMiKiMMIaMMMMaaiMML SaawhwHwImisWaMlwaMwaaliM'na— ' V ! A ui' : V v ! - ' a pnrffwUf uembeA roiic “ 7 jt J: against casinos on the now-- j iftah side Councilor Viola j Ttoyan who previously opposed that provision was pleased with the new ver-- l colleges? per-stude- K' h u over the expressed concern Some council members for Utah CEDAR CITY (AP) — Faced with rising health care costs the state Board of Regents proposed twinging Utah colleges and universities under a common plan which could save money but cost employees ' Regents voted Friday to take bids from insurance providers to administer a program hire a consultant and form a committee to explore the proposal A Regents task force meanwhile voted to seek a new funding formula a measure aimed at creating a more reliable revenue stream ' ' for Utah schools Regent Jed Pitcher said a preliminary look showed benefits of pooling die schools’ 1 0000 to 1 2000 employees under one health insurance provider far outweigh the rides especially since rising (bug prices and more malprac- tice claims have boosted costs “It may enable us to negotiate a better deal” Pitcher said Last year the system spent $3 million in claims above the $105 million paid in premium Claims have increased $10 million a year for the past three years “The situation is not going to get any better” Pitchier said Salt like Community College President Lynn Cundiff said because salaries at his institution are about 10 percent' below that of comparable colleges he relies on prime health benefits to recruit faculty “I like the idea” he said “But I worry about losing faculty” if they have to pay for health insurance Faculty and staff at eight of die state’s colleges — the Uni- versity of Utah and Utah State — University are health for don’tpay premiums benefits Self-insurplans require a premium by partici- H v- - mid-Septem- Common insurance -- Wendover merger plan revived sonnie sarpDases lion J 4 ii1 KU'Wvr WEST WENDOVER merger occurs Nev (AP) — One week Last week the council after deciding against rejected a ballot question that included a provision a proposed merger to $10 million today Part of the putting with Wendover Utahon the seeking to ban competition new surplus will help the state's November ballot to established gambling city counsavings account cilors have reversed themresorts in West Wendover of selves Stephens said West Wendover Councilor the new surplus will go into the Lore Cook said foe nonbindThe council voted Friday Rainy Day Fund as required by to let residents 'decide ing referendum will help law He estimated the amount at whether to combine their officials see where residents $1 million to $2 million Nevada gambling town with stand on the hotly debated T don’t think we’ll need to its poorer cousin across tile issue reopen the current budget and state line If approved the “It’s a good argument fool make any more cuts” Stephens Nevada border would be for what our residents want said for or against” she said moved eastward to absorb Ward said: “This report plus the Utah town ' Wendover’s City Council the new unemployment rate Wendover Mayor Stephen thanks to a newly passed bill down to 43 percent in Utah Perry proclaimed the merger by the Utah Legislature doesn’t make me feel as bad” as “back on course” could vote Wednesday on whether to put a similar “If they had voted ’no’ previous economic reports which showed growing red ink tonight we would have been question on its Nov 3 ballot Tax Commission chief econo- in a lot of trouble” he said One week ago West Wenmist Doug Macdonald said over Councilors also approved dover councilors voted 2 the past month sales tax colleca ballot question on whether to postpone a merger electo allow casinos on what is tions came in higher than tion until a consultant study income die as side die Utah was dime The report is due did if state currently expected tax withholding to $6 million not $1314 mil- a t ' I (I |