This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2017, and information in the article may be outdated.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.

Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. gave us the 5 percent flat income tax, much to the benefit of the most affluent of Utah citizens. Now that it is apparent that this move has left the public school system short-changed, several people who benefited most from the flat tax are pushing for a slight increase in the flat tax along with an increase in the sales tax.

This is so wrong. The fairest way to increase funds for our schools is to go back to a graduated income tax system. Those individuals who sit on top of the economic food chain do so because their businesses hire well-educated workers. Therefore, it is only right that they pay a higher percentage of income to educate future workers than do those who currently work for more moderate salaries.

While the Our School Now Initiative is being touted as a forward looking way to increase school funding, it strikes me as a way to stall the Legislature from going back to a graduated tax.

The affluent leaders supporting the initiative would much rather pay 5.5 percent income tax than 7 percent or higher and let the average wage earner pick up the difference.

I urge all those not among the rich to not sign the petition. Rather, lobby your state representatives and state senators to once again get budget woes off the backs of the middle and lower economic classes.

Richard Steiner

Salt Lake City