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Show Sat/Sun/Mon/Tues, January 18-21, 2020 A-5 The Park Record Help keep Park City Green and Clean County Seat COUNTY EDITOR: ALEXANDER CRAMER 649–9014 EXT. 15712 | Countynews@parkrecord.com Park City School District eyes legislative session Impact of the tax reform referendum is a major focus INSTALLED (3CM THICKNESS) Look for Green Tips every Wednesday in The Park Record for ways to be ecofriendly in your daily life ALEXANDER CRAMER The Park Record The tax reform referendum effort is hanging over the 2020 Utah Legislature’s general session. With the deadline for collecting signatures set for less than a week before lawmakers are scheduled to convene, significant questions remain about the impact on the state’s budget if the law is delayed. Education funding is at the center of many Utahns’ opposition to the law, and Todd Hauber, Park City School District’s business administrator, is keeping a close eye on how the issue will affect both the district and other school systems across the state. “It was already going to be a big session, and if the referendum is successful, it will be even bigger,” Hauber said. “I think there are already, like, 130 bills filed under education. It’s already starting off to be a busy year.” The tax reform bill that passed during a special session last month includes provisions to lower the income tax and make up the shortfall by taxing services and raising taxes on food and fuel. Opponents have until Jan. 21 to gather 116,000 signatures statewide to delay implementation of the bill until voters weigh in this fall. If they are successful, the problems legislators were trying to fix, like ongoing funding for education and rebalancing revenue sources, will resurface, Hau- STARTING @ $35/SF Free UNDERMOUNT STAINLESS STEEL KITCHEN SINK with minimum purchase of 50 sqft. FOR A FREE ESTIMATE CALL: SUE LIPKE 435.901.1722 801.487.8663 COURTESY OF THE PARK CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT Todd Hauber, Park City School District’s business administrator, says he’ll be keeping a close eye on the Statehouse during the 45-day general session. He said that there are more than 100 bills dealing with education already in the works and that tax reform will be a major focus of the Legislature. ber said. It would be as though the law was never passed. It was already going to be a big session, and if the referendum is successful, it will be even bigger. ... It’s already starting off to be a busy year.” Todd Hauber Park City School District business administrator But that’s not the only thing on his mind. Among the scores of other bills already proposed for the session, Hauber highlighted proposed changes for how sick leave is administered, standards and rules for early childhood education programs and a new school breakfast program. He also pointed to a bill aimed at increasing transparency in school finances, which he said could necessitate changing how he keeps the district’s books. “That could turn my world upside down,” he said. For Hauber, the seven-week session is filled with trips to the Statehouse, evenings spent reviewing bills, conferencing with other professionals tasked with overseeing school district finances and testifying in committee meetings about the effects of legislation on school districts. Still, he claims it’s a fun time. Hauber is the legislative liaison for an industry group called the Utah Association of School Business Officials; he’s in his third two-year term in the role. He said he thinks he was chosen for the position because of his history working for the Utah State Board of Education, which gives him a perspective about how proposals would affect school districts statewide. He’s careful to say he’s not a Please see District, A-6 VISIT OUR SHOWROOM AT 3267 SOUTH 300 WEST (I-15 EXIT 303) 2 FOR 3 $ TURKEY DEL TACOS 1723 UTE BLVD., PARK CITY, UT ©2020 Del Taco LLC DTL-20193 PRICE AND PARTICIPATION MAY VARY. SINGLE ITEM PRICE ON MENU BOARD. |