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Show i mi .mm,. mumniii 1 1, n ' w ,.-.,,...,,.,(i m . ' f m0!- .IS : mmmm' mm . - xm :''i .J WmmimPvi: : ' , r m y y- y i 3 "Hmm.." in i in i ii in ii m i ir M j GOVERNOR NORMAN H. BANGERTER Governor tells Chamber State program on target By TOM HARALDSEN BOUNTIFUL Utah Governor Gov-ernor Norm Bangerter, facing perhaps the most challenging year of his political life, said he'd "just as soon go build something if I can't be in office making tough decisions." deci-sions." Speaking before the Bountiful Area Chamber of Commerce, the governor gave an upbeat talk, sprinkled with humor, but positive with his conviction that the decisions deci-sions he's made since election in 1984 will prove right for generations genera-tions to come. Echoing thoughts he expressed in his State of the State address two weeks ago, Bangerter said Utah "is on the right track. We've had some difficulties, and we've made tough decisions, but we feel the situation is in hand, and we're moving forward." for-ward." He said lawmakers convened for the State Legislature this month "have generally come to the same conclusions as we have, particularly particular-ly when we work from the same set of facts." Understanding the political poli-tical footballs being tossed in Utah this year, the governor reiterated that his administration has stuck to its game plan of handling the "three E's: education, economic development develop-ment and efficiency in government." govern-ment." Education is perhaps the biggest concern for most Utahns. Utah's chief executive said, "We're running run-ning out of the ability to spend taxpayers tax-payers dollars. We've put all the money into government that we can CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 i Ordinance opposed Continued from page one afford to put in. Now we need a change of attitude, reforms in operations oper-ations of government, business and education designed to save money." He feels education is best handled hand-led when more control is given at the local level. "We need to decentralize decen-tralize education, look at alternative alterna-tive ways of doing the job in schools that we want to do, and know we can do." During his administration, Ban-gerter Ban-gerter has seen the number of year-round year-round schools grow from eight in 1984 to 87 this year, now involving over 60,000 students. He has encouraged en-couraged a new "report card program for schools, where programs prog-rams will be judged and graded according to efficiency and effectiveness. effec-tiveness. He added, during a question ques-tion and answer session, that he supports the idea of elementary students stu-dents buying some of their books and supplies, within reason. Economic development is at the forefront of his efforts, feeling, as many lawmakers do, that such growth will help the state overcome its financial woes. "We've made major progress in economic development," he stated. "In 1986, Utah was one of only two Intermountain states to see job growth. Unemployment is back down beneath the national average, av-erage, and new businesses are coming com-ing here." He pointed out that Utah is becoming be-coming solid in the aerospace and aircraft industry, with McDonnell-Douglas McDonnell-Douglas and Western Gear, among others, bringing their industries to the state. "McDonnell-Douglas believes that moving to Utah will save them over $25 million a year for each 1000 employees. American Express Ex-press says its productivity is up nearly 30 percent since moving here. Utah is on the cutting edge of bringing in new industries, and we need to do all we can to keep that momentum going." Efficiency in government is another high priority for Bangerter and perhaps the area where his greatest achievements have been accomplished. He said that if the 1988 budget he proposes is adopted by lawmakers this year, it will actually result in a net decrease of eight percent in government spending spend-ing since he took office, "over$no million less when you factor in in. flation and population growth." During that same period, federal government grew two percent, but the governor added, "we've reversed re-versed that trend in Utah." Last year's tax increase has haunted the governor and legislators legisla-tors for 12 months, but even he couldn't resist poking fun at himself before the Chamber. "I remember when I figured out my taxes last year that I got mad at myself, and that made it unanimous," unani-mous," he quipped. A builder by trade before he sought election in 1984, Bangerter knows that the state economy has been flat. "My friends in the building build-ing industry always tell me that I picked a tough time to be in government, govern-ment, but a great time to be out of business," he said. He added that Utahns have never lacked the abil- ity to meet challenges, and referredi to the Pioneer spirit that is still' i. alive. jr' J "I'm not one of the doomsdayrW" who predict the world will end, but I also know that tough times lie ahead. The economy is a little flat, yet I believe we're prepared to handle the challenges we'll face." He concluded by discussing the West Desert pumping project, which he said should offer protection protec-tion against more rises in the Great Salt Lake for 50 years. He said ideally the lake level should be about ab-out 4208 feet, four feet lower than the most recent measurement. |