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Show i ; 3 1 y I t .- . 1 ORVILLE CUNTHER Dear Fellow Citif.en: It is interesting' to study the financial problems of the State of Utah, and to learn the pattern they have established over the past twenty-five years. A knowledge knowl-edge of these problems is a great aid in the establishment of policy for the future. The building prog-ram Is a good example. During the decade of the thirties, thir-ties, there was little demand for a building program, and veiy limited lim-ited state revenue to support even a modest amount of construction. During the forties, the wartime restrictions and post-war shortages shor-tages made it impossible to provide pro-vide building's as soon as needed. The period since 1911 has seen a tremendous increase in population, popul-ation, Uia.t has resulted in a backlog back-log of building- needs, to cover the growth of twenty years, that is a real challenge to meet. If you have visited some of our schools recently, you may have observed the over-crowded condition con-dition of many of them. Or better bet-ter still, visit the State Hospital at Provo, or the Training School at American Fork, or the Industrial Indus-trial School at Ogden, or the Prison Pris-on at the Point of the Mountain, or the campus of the U. of U., or the offices in the .State Capitol Building. All of these institutions one will see building needs that have long been neglected, and must soon be met. To aggravate the matter, we must also reckon with the fact that our population growth is accumulative, and the worst of the problem is yet ahead. Fortunately our growth has resulted re-sulted in a corresponding increase in economic activity, that has provided the State with revenues to balance the budget each year, and make it unnecessary to go into debt, as many States have done. Utah's .financial condition is, therefore, veiy sound. However, How-ever, the ratio of income to expenditures ex-penditures moves in cycles. There are periods of several years when revenues may exceed estimates and surpluses result. Then there are periods when the opposite is true. We have just concluded a time when revenues have exceeded ex-ceeded appropriations, and we have had surpluses accumulate. In 1957, tthe Legislature used some of these surpluses to meet the needs of the State School Fund, and to start a ten-year building program. This made it possible to do so without increasing in-creasing taxes. It now appeal's that the State may end the year with some surpluses remaining, but not enough to continue the present programs, and provide for the increased in-creased needs of our growing population in the public schools, the Vocational Schools, and the colleges and universities, and all other institutions. Many people in responsible positions are therefore there-fore saying that we must sustain an increase in taxes. This will not be necessary however, if the Legislature Leg-islature is composed of men who understand the economy of the State, and have a knowledge of the cyclic pattern of State Revenues. Rev-enues. I am convinced that a wise Legislature may provide for the expanding needs of the State, and continue the ten year building program, without a major increase in-crease in taxes. It will be necessary neces-sary and desirable to enact legislation legis-lation to further close loopholes in our present tax structure, thereby providing greater tax equity, and perhaps bond for a limited amount, until we meet the next cyclic surge in State revenue. If elected in November, I will devote my energies toward a balanced budget, without any general increase in taxes. Sincerely yours, :' ORVILLE GUNTHER Republican Candidate for State Legislature (Paid political advertisement) |
