This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2017, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Utahns unsure whether to add their signature to — and potentially vote for — a $700 million tax hike to fund education will have a chance to ask questions and submit comments at a series of public meetings next week.
Our Schools Now, which is prepping a 2018 ballot initiative that would raise Utah's sales and income taxes by one-half of 1 percent, announced Wednesday a list of regional meetings scheduled for July 11, ahead of a signature drive in August.
The Tuesday meetings will be held simultaneously at 6 p.m. at elementary schools in Salt Lake City, Orem, St. George, Logan, Ephraim, Price and Vernal.
"The people of Utah have the opportunity to decide if we should make this investment in their children and in our future," Scott Anderson, Zions Bank CEO and co-chairman of Our Schools Now, said in a written statement. "These hearings will continue the conversation on how to best support teachers, improve achievement, and ensure students are better prepared with skills to succeed in today's word."
Initiative organizers formally launched their campaign last month by filing the Teacher and Student Success Act with the Utah Lieutenant Governor's office. The act, if approved by voters, would phase in tax increases over three years and distribute funding to grade schools and public higher education institutions on a per-student basis.
Utah consistently ranks last in the nation for the amount it spends per-student on public education.
Our Schools Now — which is supported by notable Utah business, education and community leaders — originally sought to raise $750 million in annual school spending through the income tax alone. But those plans were altered to include the sales tax in response to feedback that a proposed seven-eighths of 1 percent income tax increase was too severe, according to initiative leaders.
Following next week's regional meetings, Our Schools Now is expected to begin gathering signatures in August to qualify for the November 2018 ballot. In order to go before voters, the Teacher and Student Success Act must secure more than 113,000 signatures from registered voters in at least 26 of Utah's 29 Senate districts.
Utahns who wish to provide comment but who are unable to attend the regional meetings can submit comments on the initiative's website at http://www.ourschoolsnow.com.
Twitter: @bjaminwood Our Schools Now meetings
Backers of the Our Schools Now ballot initiative have announced seven public meetings on the measure, all set for Tuesday beginning at 6:00 p.m. at the following locations:
Ashley Elementary • 350 N. 1150 West, in Vernal
Castle Heights Elementary • 750 N. Homestead Blvd., Price
Ephraim Elementary • 570 S. 300 East, Ephraim
Hillcrest Elementary • 960 N. 1400 East, Logan
Legacy Elementary • 280 E. 100 South, St. George
Orem Elementary • 450 W. 400 South, Orem
Wasatch Elementary • 30 R St., Salt Lake City