There is, however, a continuing scepticism that the rationale he uses to claim "investment" is no more than a maintenance of the inadequate status quo. What he does not volunteer are costs for inflation and additional students reflected in that billion dollars.
Does it compensate for growth and diminished purchasing power (books, supplies, facility maintenance, etc.) plus provide an "investment," or does the billion dollars simply maintain or perhaps not even keep up with basic needs?
His New Jersey comparison is also suspect. His rationale suggests that with New Jersey's population double ours, but with half as many students to educate, Utah cannot hope to place much above the bottom in class size and teacher-pupil ratios. Also, Utah families have about one member over the national average.
Clark then seems to imply that we would have to spend four times what we do to compete with New Jersey, then later he says we would have to double income and property taxes to show a "stronger commitment."
Perhaps he is relying too much on the Utah Taxpayers Association and the Sutherland Institute for information. A more reliable source would be the Utah Foundation, a nonprofit and nonpartisan group. Also, if legislative leadership cannot accept the research of still another source - the education lobby - let them state why. It's obvious his comparison with New Jersey needs much closer analysis.
The lack of ability to fund public education because of a high percentage of public lands is also questionable. Those federal and state lands bring in royalties and lease revenues, but require very little state effort to regulate and maintain them. There are also federal impact funds to lighten the burden of property taxes in some counties.
Utah is not a poor state. Look at the number of million-dollar homes, expensive cars and entertainment tickets. If we wish a first-class education for our children and grandchildren, the money's there. But if we continue to give tax breaks to the affluent and big corporations - in the dubious hope of economic development - it truly may not be there.
But within the current tax structure a significantly stronger commitment to public education - an investment - can be made without doubling taxes.
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* KARL SWAN is a former Utah state senator.
