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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. 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 $ 1 4 1 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 total state and local spending by 6 using Tax Commission figures, or by less than 4 using figures developed by the Utah Taxpayers Association. 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 on? 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 aren't these critical items purchased first? 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 non-competitive basis. Every homemaker knows the savings achieved from comparison shopping. Opponents to Initiatives A, B, & C, have used every Scar(, ! tactic in the book. The same things were said in California and ' yet in June of this year Californians, after 10 years und. Proposition 13, voted to retain tax limitation. Vote FOE Initiative B. I J. Bracken Lee, Former Govem0 Tax Limitation Coalition ) p-0. Box 26246 ' Salt Lake City, Utah 84125 |