The clamor against tax cuts grew louder Monday, as school boards, superintendents and school business officials across Utah called for lawmakers to use the state's budget surplus "in the best interest of Utah's children."
Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. and Republican leaders in the House and Senate are pushing for a special session Sept. 20 aimed at cutting taxes by at least $70 million and reforming Utah's income tax system in an effort to spark economic growth.
Huntsman is also proposing a two-track income tax system to allow taxpayers to choose between filing under the existing system with expanded brackets or, beginning in 2007, at a flat rate of 5.3 percent with no deductions or credits.
But most voters oppose cutting the income tax, which funds higher and public education, said Steve Peterson, representing Utah School Boards Association and Utah School Superintendents. The two groups, along with the Utah Association of School Business Officials, issued a statement Monday urging the Legislature to reverse a "downward spiral" in education funding.
"In every one of the polls we've had in Utah, voters are saying 'Let's fund education instead of tax cuts,' " Peterson said.
Kirk Wright, superintendent of Juab School District, said meager education funding is causing a painful crunch in his district. Districts can't pay their best teachers enough to keep them in Utah, and students are losing out, he said.
One of Wright's most experienced and popular teachers just took a job in Wyoming for $15,000 more in annual salary, plus better benefits. The district lost its investment in advanced training that gave this one teacher expertise in training other teachers, Wright said, and students lost a highly effective teacher.
"His students had tremendous test scores." Wright said. "He was happy in the community, and they were happy with him, but he had to make a decision based on what was best for his family."
There are other examples in Juab School District of valuable teachers being lured away. A teacher of biology, physics and chemistry quit his position after his weekend work with the National Guard resulted in the offer of a full-time job for better pay, Wright said.
"He's extremely hard to replace, particularly in a rural area," Wright said.
Earlier this month, Huntsman told the Utah State Board of Education his tax plan will create new jobs, providing a long-term increase in tax revenues that feed school coffers.
But Peterson believes lawmakers should invest in the future by coming through for education now, while the economy is robust and the state has a $351 million surplus.
"Our children are the most valuable resource we have," he said. "And they become even more valuable according to the quality of the education they get."
Why proposed education cuts are drawing criticism
l Utah is ranked 51st in the U.S. for education spending, and the gap between Utah and the second-last state, Idaho, is widening.
l The percentage of Utahns' household income that goes toward education - Utah's education funding effort - has shrunk from 5th in the U.S. to 27th.
l Utah is experiencing a teacher shortage. One half of Utah's teachers leave the profession during their first five years.
l State funding isn't keeping up with pupil transportation costs, forcing school districts to pull money from educational programs.
Sources: Statistics from Utah Foundation, U.S. Census Bureau and Utah State Office of Education as cited in a statement from Utah School Boards Association, Utah School Superintendents Association and Utah Association of School Business Officials.
Why proposed education cuts are drawing criticism
l Utah is ranked 51st in the U.S. for education spending, and the gap between Utah and the second-last state, Idaho, is widening.
l The percentage of Utahns' household income that goes toward education - Utah's education funding effort - has shrunk from 5th in the U.S. to 27th.
l Utah is experiencing a teacher shortage. One half of Utah's teachers leave the profession during their first five years.
l State funding isn't keeping up with pupil transportation costs, forcing school districts to pull money from educational programs.
Sources: Statistics from Utah Foundation, U.S. Census Bureau and Utah State Office of Education as cited in a statement from Utah School Boards Association, Utah School Superintendents Association and Utah Association of School Business Officials.
