Utah state budget (2012-2013)
Lawmakers approved the $12.81 billion Utah state budget on March 8, 2012.[1][2] It increases spending from the prior year by approximately $440 million.[3] State revenues are projected to increase by more than $360 million.[2]
The budget does not raise taxes.[2]
The total state debt will drop about $130 million under the plan. Still, the state has about $1,200 in debt for every Utahn.[3]
Highlights of the budget include:
- a 1 percent raise for state employees, including higher education employees and lawmakers set aside money for school districts to give K-12 teachers 1 percent raises;[2]
- $87 million more funds than FY2012 for Medicaid to address the increase of Utahns enrolling in the program;[3]
- $110 million in new funds for public education, including the $41 million the governor requested to cover an enrollment increase of 12,500 students.[3]
Of the total budget funds, 27 percent come from the federal government.[1]
Early in FY2013, the officials spent $50 million fighting wildfires, $16 million of expenses paid for by the state.[4] The budget allocated only $3 million for that expense.[5]
Governor's Proposed Budget
On Dec. 12, 2011, Gov. Gary Herbert released his proposed FY2013 budget of $12.9 billion.[6] Highlights of the proposed budget include:
- $2.5 billion would go to K-12 public education with $111 million in new funding, including $41 million to help cover an enrollment increase of 12,500 students during the next school year;
- $93 million more in higher education funding.[6]
The budget spends $160 million more than FY2012 on Medicaid, with enrollment in the program expected to grow by 39,000 individuals.[6]
A budget summary released by Herbert shows that state revenues are climbing to $5 billion from a low of $4.2 billion two years ago. The plan does not include any tax increases.[6] The governor asked lawmakers to cut unemployment insurance tax rates for the state’s 85,000 employers, “and allow them to create more jobs and hire more people.”[7]
Lawmakers will discuss the governor's proposed budget when the legislative session opens Jan. 23, 2012.[6]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Utah FY2012-13 Appropriations Report by the Legislative Fiscal Analyst May 2012
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 The Daily Herald "Mostly quiet Legislative session concludes March 9, 2012
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 The Salt Lake Tribune "Budget grows as state shakes off recession" March 9, 2012
- ↑ KOAMtv.com Aug. 23, 2012
- ↑ The Denver Post "Costs of big wildfire season hurting some states" Aug. 23, 2012
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 Businessweek "Utah governor unveils $12.9B budget proposal" Dec. 12, 2011
- ↑ Businessweek "Governors Seeking Jobs Offer Tax Breaks as Budget Woes Ease" Jan. 31, 2012
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