Show Utah's Growth Rate BelowUS Utah's rate of economic growth during recent years has been well below that for the nation as a whole and most of the growth that has occurred has been the result of government expansion ra rather her than private de de- de- de There were th disturbing disturbing disturbing dis dis- dis- dis conclusions reached in inthe inthe inthe the latest research te report rt released released re re- re leased by Utah Foundation the private governmental research agency The Foundation analysis reveals reveals re re- reveals that Utah is slipping further further fur fur- ther titer behind the rest of the nadon nation nation na na- na- na tion don in personal income In 1962 for example per capita income in Utah was only 9 below the theU U US U.S. S average By 1966 Utah had dropped 16 6 below the average for the nation Per capita income income income in in- come in Utah during 1966 amounted to 2485 or nearly 55 under the US U.S. average of 2963 According to the Foundation study total employment in Utah private industry increased only 13 between 1960 and 1966 compared compared compared com com- pared with a 63 rise in the number of government jobs Federal state and local during this same period At the present present present pres pres- ent time government employment employment employment employ employ- ment accounts for more than jobs in Utah or 30 of the total nonagricultural work work- force Similarly most of the increase in hi Utah's personal income during during during dur dur- ing the has been in the public rather than the private sector of the economy Between 1960 and 1966 personal income derived from sources rose only 32 while government income payments climbed more than 70 in this period Payments by government units accounted for nearly million or of Utah's total personal income in 1966 Foundation analysts point out that expansion in government activities activities activities ac ac- ac- ac has resulted in sharply higher taxes The proportion of personal income going for taxes now is at its highest point in history During the 1967 fiscal year the people of Utah paid an estimated million in Federal state and local tax tax- es Included in the above total are hidden or indirect taxes as aswell aswell aswell well as the direct taxes paid by individuals A substantial portion of the tax cost paid by business is reflected in higher prices of goods and services purchased by individuals or in a reduction of the wages salaries dividends or and/or profits that individuals might otherwise receive According to the Foundation report there has been very little if any net migration to or from Utah thus far in the 1960 decade The population increase between 1960 and 1967 is just about equal to the natural increase excess of births over deaths during this same period Utah's total r population was estimated at 1 on July 1 1967 compared compared com corn pared with on the last official population count in 1960 Utah currently ranks eleventh among the fifty states in the proportion of personal income i going for state and local taxes One bright spot noted in the I Foundation report however is I I that Utah's relative tax position among the states should improve improve im im- im prove since no new taxes were enacted by the 1967 Utah Legislature Legislature Legislature Legis Legis- lature while substantial tax hikes were approved in a number number number num num- ber of the other states |