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Show Strange View J Gordon L. Crabtree, Director of Finance for the state of Utah, has recently sent a letter to newspapers in the state criticizing me for not identifying where cuts should be made if the tax initiatives are passed in the November election. Mr. Crabtree shares with Governor Bangerter a strange view of how government is supposed to work. They seem to think that whenever taxes are to be raised, they know just how to do it and the people don't need to be consulted. But when taxes are to be cut, the people have a responsibility to tell them where the cuts are to be made. The fact of the matter is the voters of the state elect officials to run the government. We pay them what some would consider to be outrageous salaries and we expect them to do their jobs. If the tax initiatives pass and 6 needs to be cut from state and local revenues, we expect our high-paid officials to do the job. If they can't as apparently Mr. Crabtree can't then we need to elect and appoint some who can. Mr. Crabtree is dead certain about how much will be cut from tax revenues if the initiatives pass. Of course, he uses figures compiled by those who calculated the 1987 tax increase at $157 million dollars. That same tax increase is now approaching $310 million dollars. Dar Mr. Crabtree, Director of I wit) nance, also quotes other figures d? signed, no doubt, to add author;: sPe to his argument. He states t! combined budgets of Natural l sources, Agriculture a; Community Development tot 7. $54 million. The 19874 .. Annronriation"! Rpnnrt fmm iv' Office of the Legislative Fist; Analyst says the combined budgv jin are $176.7 million. Crabtree s; the Public Education budget $692 million, the report says ! billion. He says Higher Educati is $260 million, the report sa . $337 million. He says Sod Services is $101 million, the repc: says $268 million. I am sure that Mr. Crabtree is: m dedicated public servant, but as Di- ?8 rector of Finance, his use of figures jn gives new meaning to the old say- ' ing, "Close enough for govemmenl work." Over one hundred thousand Utahns have signed petitions to put l; the initiatives on the ballot. This t may not seem to Mr. Crabtree like much of a demand for lower taxes when he considers the calls from the special interests for higher tax- i es, but it seems like a lot to me. Greg Beesley Chairman, Tax Limitation Coalition of Utah J3 |