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Show Utah Foundation Report State spending to reach 756 million include appropriations for public school support. This authority to reduce appropriations, however, should be limited to 4 percent of the total budget without a special session call. . The Governor recommended that a $1.7 million "windfall" which was to be paid to the public-schools public-schools should not be distributed. He pointed out that the State should be obligated to pay only the actual costs of the school program and not the estimated costs. . Rather than increase fishing or hunting licenses, he suggested that the State should appropriate $3 million from the General Fund to the Division of Wildlife, Resources. that a major cost-of-living boost amounting to $9,620,000 be made in the school employees retirement program. . A recommended state appropriation ap-propriation of $86 million for higher education for 1975-76 would represent a 13.2 percent increase over the original 1974-75 appropriation and 16.7 percent when the current 3 percent appropriation ap-propriation reduction is considered. con-sidered. The Governor suggested plemental highway budget message in about 45 days. Because there is a likelihood of Federal legislation which could affect highway finances, the matter was postponed until this later time. Foundation analysts cite the following as some of the other important points brought out in the Governor's budget message: . The Governor's budget recommends that part of the cost-of-living increase for per- million (0.8 percent), and development services - $5.3 million (0.7 percent). The Foundation study notes that the 1975-76 Governor's budget contemplates an increase in the slate individual income tax amounting to $12.8 million. This would be done to make up the revenue loss that was incurred when Utah adopted the Federal method of reporting in 1973. The Governor suggested that this change could be made either by raising the existing income tax Total state spending in Utah from current revenues will reach $756 million next year under the budget proposed by the Governor to the 1975 Utah Legislature. This sum represents an increase of $72 million, or 10.5 percent over the $694 million authorized for state purposes in 1974-75. These facts were pointed out by Utah Foundation, the private research agency in their analysis of the 1975-76 state budget. Of the $756 million proposed expenditures from current funds for 1975-76, approximately $387 that a study be made by the Board of Regents to determine the adequacy of student tuition fees. He said that nonresident tuitions should be maintained at 80 percent of current costs for educating such students. . A budgetary increase of 14.6 percent is recommended for the Department of Social Services. Larger than average increases . would be provided for corrections, correc-tions, mental health, alcoholism and drugs, aging, and mental retardation. . The Governor recommended that his power to reduce appropriations ap-propriations in order to prevent operating deficits be extended to sonnel costs be used to provide larger increases in retirement benefits, with corresponding smaller increases in current salaries. A 12 percent increase for personnel costs is built into the respective departmental budgets. This 12 percent is to cover increases for both current salaries and retirement benefits. . Recommended state support of the public schools in 1975-76 was set at $205.9 million, an increase in-crease of 16.2 percent over the current fiscal year. It was proposed that the amount of support per weighted pupil unit be raised from $560 to $610, and rate structure or by returning to the old state income tax law. He expressed a preference for the second alternative. Another change recommended by the Governor would be to exempt prescription drugs from the sales tax. Such an exemption would reduce revenue from the tax by approximately $2 million a year. There is also a possibility that the Governor might recommend a three cent per gallon increase in the gasoline tax. The Foundation Foun-dation report states that the Governor will submit a sup- million, or 51.2 percent would go for education. Public schools would receive $252 million (33.3 percent) and higher education would get $135 million (17.9 percent). Other major areas of state spending would include social services - $146.3 million (19.4 percent), highways and transportation - $113.2 million (15.0 percent), general government govern-ment - $61.3 million (8.1 percent), natural resources - $19.3 million (2.6 percent ), public safety - $18.1 million (2.4 percent), debt retirement and interest - $5.7 |