For Huntsman, one of the goals of the Tax Reform Task Force - which will meet all day Thursday - is to keep the state's tax collections level.

"Tax cuts for the sake of tax cuts, I don't think anyone is necessarily - at least from my office - going to be advocating that," he said at his monthly KUED-TV news conference.

But some key lawmakers want to discuss slashing taxes as part of the overall tax-reform proposal.

Any reform plan will result in some Utahns paying less in taxes and some who will end up paying more.

"If you are willing to marry a tax reduction with tax reform, then you can soften the blow on those who are going to pay more," Senate President John Valentine said. "But to take tax reduction off the table at the beginning is not fair to the taxpayers."

Rep. Wayne Harper, R-West Jordan, the task force co-chairman, goes even further.

"We are going to push for a reduction in the tax burden for the residents of Utah," he said.

The talk of tax cuts follows the latest monthly tax-collection report, which shows revenues up $112 million from the projections in March. That comes after lawmakers divvied out a total of $605 million in extra money - surplus and forecast revenue growth - during the legislative session.

During that session, legislators and the governor created the Tax Reform Task Force.

Utah's changing economy is the impetus behind tax reform, namely the growth in the service sector instead of mining, agriculture and manufacturing.

Huntsman said the task force should look at imposing taxes on some services that have traditionally been exempt. But the governor also wants some taxes repealed, such as the corporate income tax and the state sales tax on some basic foods.

His attempt to repeal the corporate tax failed last session, but it is sure to get another hearing in the task force. The corporate tax brings in up to $200 million a year. If the tax is repealed, Huntsman expects the loss would be offset by new companies lured to Utah by its more favorable tax status.

Huntsman has targeted the state sales tax on food as an unnecessary burden on Utah's poor. "It hits people where it shouldn't," he said.

He would be fine with the tax remaining on such items as soda pop, candy bars and potato chips, but he wants to create an exemption for staples such as bread and milk.

Lawmakers and the governor agree any tax reform proposals, whether they result in a net decrease in taxes or not, must be able to withstand the ebbs and flows of Utah's sometimes volatile economy.

mcanham@sltrib.com