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Show UTA members polled 97 oppose $236 million tax hike "Ninety-seven percent of taxpayers responding to a recent poll are opposed to Governor Bangerter's proposed $236 million tax hike. The poll was sent to about 3,000 members of the Utah Taxpayers Association. Of the 1,400 members who responded to the 1987 Legislative survey, 97 percent answered that they were opposed to the tax increase. Of this, 34 percent said they would favor the tax increase only if school reforms are enacted and 63 percent indicated they would oppose the tax hike with or without reforms," re-forms," said Jack Olson of the statewide tax watchdog organization. organi-zation. "This type of membership survey is conducted every year in January and is used to aid the association in its lobbying efforts on capital hill," said Olson. Seventy-nine percent of those answering the questionnaire said the Governor's $236 million tax hike proposal should be referred to the voters for their approval. Of those responding to the question, "Do you favor extending Utah's sales tax to professional services such as medical, dental, de-ntal, realtors, accountants, and barbers," 27 percent answered yes and 73 percent voted no. Eighty-six percent favor consolidation of city and county services and 95 percent would oppose legislation allowing cities and counties to impose a local option individual income tax. On the question of a 5 cent state gas tax increase the question was more evenly divided: 45 percent said yes and 55 percent said no. Ninety-three percent of Taxpayers Association members responding re-sponding to the questionnaire opposed the elimination of federal income tax deduction allowed on Utah's Individual Income tax and 86 percent responded that they are opposed to retired state workers being exempt from paying state income taxes on their retirement income. Eighty-seven percent indicated they would favor a one percent per-cent property tax limitation initiative, and 90 percent would favor a law providing for recall of elected government officials. Ninety-five percent of those responding to the questionnaire said they would favor transferring to the private sector government govern-ment services which can be provided more economically, or those services that unfairly compete with private industry. When asked "How do you feel about your property taxes," one percent felt they were a bargain, 27 percent indicated they were acceptable, 47 percent said they were too high and 25 percent said that Utah property taxes were an outrage. To the question, "How do you feel the new federal tax changes will affect you," 15 percent predicted there would be no change, 79 percent said their federal taxes will increase and six percent said their taxes will diop. When asked about Utah's business climate, 70 percent said that job growth is stagnant because of high taxes, 1 1 percent answered that taxes do not have a significant effect on the business climate and 19 percent answered with other assorted comments. Jack Olson, Executive Vice President of the Utah Taxpayers Association said that the survey results are being distributed to the Legislature. He said he hopes his membership's overwhelming overwhelm-ing opposition to the Governor's $236 million tax proposal will have a positive effect in convincing legislators to reject the suggested hike. |