This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
I read an article where Gail Miller is touting a 7/8 percent increase in state income tax, indicating that it bumps the rate by 7/8th of a percent. Hmm. My grade school arithmetic indicates this is a 17.5 percent dollar increase — i.e., $100,000 X 5 percent = $5,000; $100,000 X 5.875 percent = $5,875; 5875 - 5000 = 875/5000 = 17.5 percent increase. Whoa!
I have a better idea: How about if those who choose to have a large family help pay for their own kids' education. If a family with four kids paid for two (reduce dependent exemptions by two) and left my taxes alone (my kids are long since grown and paying taxes), there should be enough additional revenue.
Fred Murphy
Taylorsville