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Show : x i - ' - "' - .' ' - r- ' - : j :j ! I ! i 1 1 r - i ORVILLE GUNTHER Dear Fellow Citizen: Last week I promised to describe de-scribe how the Legislature proceeds pro-ceeds to appropriate tax money for the various units of State Government. Prior to the meeting of the State Legislature, the various units of State Government present pre-sent their budgot requests to the Governor. He studies them and makes whatever modifications he feels are necessary, and then he presents a budget message to the Legislature. This budget must come within the limits of estimated estim-ated revenue, otherwise he must recommend bonding or tax increases in-creases to cover any deficit. When the legislature organizes organ-izes itself, commitees are formed to do the detail work of all legislation. legis-lation. The most important of these committees is the one on Appropriation. It is assigned the task of reviewing the budget requests, re-quests, meeting with the various department heads, holding hearings hear-ings to obtain information, both pro and con, regarding the expenditures ex-penditures in the various budget requests. This is a very technical process, and requires great skill and understanding In the formation forma-tion of decisions, as to where budgets may be adjusted to insure in-sure that the total remains inside the limits of revenues. It is neoessary for this committee com-mittee to have a knowledge of the tax structure and the revenues reve-nues derived therefrom. Certain taxes are dedicated, by the Constitution, Con-stitution, to be used for specific purposes. Others may be transferred trans-ferred from one use to another by legislative act. This committee must understand all the intri-cacits intri-cacits of this system, so that they may recommend to the Legislature Leg-islature a budget that will be in the interest of the whole State of Utah, and at the same time, come within the limits of the tax revenues available. Great pressures pres-sures are exerted by various groups to promote individual department de-partment intertsts. As a consequence, con-sequence, the result is often an increase of appropriations, and a consequent increase in taxes. Next week I will describe some of the problems that will be faced fac-ed by the Appropriation Committee Commit-tee next January, and my own proposals for a prog'ram to balance bal-ance the State Budget, without an increase in taxes. Sincerely, ORVILLE GUNTHER Republican Candidate for State Legislature. |
