The Executive Appropriations Committee officially kicked off the state's annual budgeting season Wednesday by allocating $4.2 billion in base budgets to several subcommittees, which will in turn distribute the funding to programs and departments with approval of the full Legislature.
The committee's mundane passage of the base budget bills, however, followed a week of leapfrogging tax-cut proposals based on the recent revenue overrun projections.
Last Friday, Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. announced his $9.6 billion budget blueprint that includes a $60 million tax cut for Utahns along with more money for education, roads and public employees. He described his budget "more Santa than Scrooge."
House Republicans met Tuesday in a closed-door meeting where they hashed out a tax cut that would dwarf not only Huntsman's, but the largest previous cut - $100 million in 1996.
Huntsman spokesman Mike Mower said without details, he couldn't explain the wide discrepancy in the proposals, except, "Our budget addresses long-term needs that went unfunded due to economic downturns."
House members say their proposal was driven by a vocal majority who fear state government is growing too fast - 24.7 percent in terms of revenues.
"The consensus of members of the caucus was very strong to take this money off the table," said Rep. David Ure, R-Kamas.
One of the most remarkable things about the House's proposal, aside from its shear magnitude, was the nearly total lack of details as to where the tax cut would come from.
"Everyone agreed on that number, but there is no broad consensus on how to do that," said House budget manager Ron Bigelow, R-West Valley, adding, "But it's a reasonably solid number. We don't want to grow government that fast. It's growing faster than the economy. Faster than the population."
The Governor's Office, however, calculates government growth in another way. Huntsman's budget would increase the state workforce by only 270 workers, 1.3 percent, compared to the state's 3.2 percent population growth.
Sen. Curt Bramble, chairman of the Revenue and Taxation Committee, said the House's reaction to the surplus could be premature.
"The surplus is $1.36 billion. It's substantial. But it's incumbent upon us to be cautious. Are these revenues sustainable?"
Senate Republicans have informally endorsed a $40 million to $60 million tax cut. The Senate GOP caucus will meet next week to discuss its budget proposals in detail.
House Majority Leader Jeff Alexander predicts lawmakers are in for an education in tax reform and budgeting: "The discussion is just starting."
Huntsman said Friday that he and the House hold "different world views" about state spending, adding, "Most things in life are negotiated."
