January 2023 Archive
Walking the Line: What Value is the State Getting for its Investments?
It’s budget season. Each year during the General Session, the Legislature appropriates the state budget – but the budget isn’t just money to be spent. The budget is policymakers’ investment in services and other priorities of the state, on behalf of the taxpayers. What value is the state getting for its investments? The Legislature changed […]
The ABCs of RFAs
Requests for Appropriation – commonly referred to as RFAs – are a method for legislators to obtain funding for a public project, or to expand an existing program within state government. This method of funding is not to be confused with the funding associated with passed bills, as RFAs are not designed to support the […]
Revenues Get a Jump on General Session
The Utah State Tax Commission published its revenue summary for the first half of FY 2023 on the first day of Legislative General Session. As shown in the accompanying Revenue Snapshot from the Office of the Legislative Fiscal Analyst (LFA) and Governor’s Office of Planning and Budget (GOPB), General and Income Tax Fund collections remain […]
Getting Schooled Pt. 2: the Minimum School Program and Property Taxes
Multiple factors contribute to the amount of property tax a homeowner pays, including the Minimum Basic Tax Rate. The Minimum Basic Tax Rate is the amount of property tax charged statewide to pay for the Minimum School Program (refresh your public education budget knowledge here). While the Basic Rate (and recent increases) factors into property […]