SALT LAKE CITY — Utah Governor Gary Herbert has signed a pair of tax hikes into law.
On Friday, the governor signed House Bill 362, which increases the gas tax by a nickel next year (with a penny increase the next few years after that). The money will pay for increased transportation needs.
“A strong transportation infrastructure has played a critical role in our economic growth and it will continue to do so, thanks to this bill,” the governor said in a statement. “This session we took the necessary steps to address the discrepancy between the funds we have set aside for transportation and the funds we will need to support our growing population and keep commerce flowing through our state for decades to come.”
The governor also signed Senate Bill 97, a $75 million property tax hike to help pay for education.
The Utah Taxpayers Association blasted the tax hikes.
“We are disappointed by the Governor’s actions. He could have protected Utahns from higher taxes but decided to increase the tax burden on the state’s families and businesses. Taxpayers produced $700 million in surplus revenue this year for the state government. To think such tax increases right now are necessary begs the question if the governor and the legislature really were as fiscally responsible in creating the state budget as they claimed to have been,” the group’s vice-president, Billy Hesterman, said in an email to FOX 13.
The tax hikes were among 59 bills signed by the governor on Friday:
|
Bill Number |
Bill Name |
Bill Sponsor |
|
State Agency and Higher Education Compensation Appropriations |
Sanpei, D. |
|
|
Utah Retirement System Amendments |
Powell, K. |
|
|
Insurance Modifications |
Dunnigan, J. |
|
|
Water Law – Application Revisions |
Snow, V.L. |
|
|
Medicaid Management of Emergency Department Utilization |
Kennedy, M. |
|
|
Local Government Disclosure and Campaign Finance Amendments |
Draxler, J. |
|
|
Supplemental Savings Plan Amendments |
Cunningham, R. |
|
|
Water Rights – Change Application Amendments |
McIff, K. |
|
|
Local Government Residential Reimbursement Authority |
Anderson, Johnny |
|
|
Change Application Modifications |
Grover, K. |
|
|
Hearing Instrument Specialist Amendments |
Froerer, G. |
|
|
Maintenance of Student Records |
Froerer, G. |
|
|
Firefighter Retirement Amendments |
Ipson, D. |
|
|
Vulnerable Adult Worker Amendments |
Sanpei, D. |
|
|
Affiliated Emergency Service Worker Postretirement Employment Amendments |
Sagers, D. |
|
|
Infertility Insurance Coverage Amendments |
Christensen, L. |
|
|
Revisor’s – Technical Corrections |
Dunnigan, J. |
|
|
Unclaimed Life Insurance and Annuity Benefits |
Dunnigan, J. |
|
|
Local District Service Amendments |
Perry, L. |
|
|
Armed Forces Property Tax Exemption Amendments |
Oda, C. |
|
|
Real Estate Amendments |
Froerer, G. |
|
|
Veteran Employment Protection Act |
McKell, M. |
|
|
Lobbyist Disclosure and Regulation Act Modifications |
McKell, M. |
|
|
Amendments to the Interlocal Act |
Anderson, Johnny |
|
|
Prescription Notification Amendments |
Gibson, F. |
|
|
Highway Special Event Permitting |
Froerer, G. |
|
|
New Car Dealership Franchise Amendments |
McKell, M. |
|
|
Government Use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles – Amendments |
Sandall, S. |
|
|
Traffic Safety Lights on Vehicles |
Perry, L. |
|
|
Jail Contracting Treatment Rate Amendments |
Noel, M. |
|
|
Child and Family Amendments |
Christensen, L. |
|
|
Career and Technical Education Comprehensive Study |
Cunningham, R. |
|
|
Parent and Child Amendments |
Christensen, L. |
|
|
Transportation Infrastructure Funding |
Anderson, Johnny |
|
|
School Land Trust Program Amendments |
Cunningham, R. |
|
|
Connected Vehicle Testing |
Knotwell, J. |
|
|
Utah Broadband Outreach Center |
Handy, S. |
|
|
Current School Year Supplemental Public Education Budget Adjustments |
Hillyard, L. |
|
|
State Agency Fees and Internal Service Fund Rate Authorization and Appropriations |
Stevenson, J. |
|
|
Revenue Bond and Capital Facilities Amendments |
Harper, W. |
|
|
Water Law – Forfeiture Exemptions |
Dayton, M. |
|
|
Governor’s Office of Economic Development Revisions |
Osmond, A. |
|
|
Department of Financial Institutions Amendments |
Bramble, C. |
|
|
Water Law – Application Withdrawal |
Dayton, M. |
|
|
Municipal and County Officials Attendance At School District Board Meetings |
Harper, W. |
|
|
Property Tax Equalization Amendments |
Osmond, A. |
|
|
Medicaid Accountable Care Organizations |
Adams, J.S. |
|
|
Board of Education Compensation Amendments |
Osmond, A. |
|
|
Regulation of Reverse Mortgages |
Harper, W. |
|
|
Motion Picture Licensing Amendments |
Shiozawa, B. |
|
|
Physics Education Proposal |
Stephenson, H. |
|
|
Contact Lens Consumer Protection Act Amendments |
Henderson, D. |
|
|
Amendments to Sales and Use Tax Exemptions |
Bramble, C. |
|
|
Development of Lands Around Bear Lake |
Jenkins, S. |
|
|
Political Activity Amendments |
Bramble, C. |
|
|
Capital Improvement and Development Project Amendments |
Harper, W. |
|
|
Irrigation Service Water Rights Amendments |
Van Tassell, K. |
|
|
Charter School Revisions |
Henderson, D. |
|
|
School Districts – Transportation Policies |
Adams, J.S. |
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