Governor Still Expects More Money for Education

Feb 22, 2008 by Jeff Robinson

(KCPW News) Governor Jon Huntsman says although the state's budget surplus is more than $300 million less than expected, he still expects the state to fund significant increases in education spending. He says that will happen in a few different ways.

"I think we can do part of it directly to the teacher, and there's been some talk about $2,000 or $2,500 directly to teachers, and maybe two to three percent of it in the form of a WPU," he said in a press conference Thursday. "We may end up doing both of those. Maybe one percent in the form of a one-time bonus."

But the governor says further tax cuts probably won't happen this year. He says the state needs to wait and see the effect previous tax cuts will have before any further cuts happen.

Governor Huntsman says if there is any further tax relief, it will be targeted directly at health care costs.

"If we see any kind of tax cut, so to speak, it could very well be in the form of the ability for people to purchase on a pre-tax basis some sort of health care coverage, which has been talked about," he said.

The governor says that would cost the state between $15 and $18 million.

Email to a friendPosted in KCPW Newsroom and 2008 Legislative Coverage. Copyright 2008 KCPW