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2003 Results of Member Involvement in the Utah Taxpayers Association

2002 Victories

Grass Roots Action            Tax Savings

Auditing of Budgets            Legal Action

Research             Lobbying & Committee s

Publications     Campaigns &Conferences

GRASS ROOTS ACTION 35 Tax Alerts!

TAX ALERTS REGARDING:

1. Salt Lake City Taxpayers Should Be Very Concerned About Proposed Bonds
2. Utah State Tax Commission Proposes Rule to Automatically Increase Property Taxes
3. Weber School District -- Proposing a 2% increase
4. Davis School District -- Proposing a 1% increase
5. Garfield School District -- Proposing a 7.6% increase
6. Tooele School District -- Proposing a 3.5% increase
7. Wasatch School District -- Proposing a 8% increase
8. Box Elder School District -- Proposing a 3.2% increase
9. Morgan School District -- Proposing a 4.1% increase
10. Carbon County School District -- Proposing a 16.7% increase
11. Daggett County -- Proposing a 96% increase
12. Wayne School District -- Proposing a 97% increase
13. Alpine School District -- Proposing a 8.8% increase
14. Cache County -- Proposing a 28.5% increase
15. Iron County -- Proposing a 38% increase
16. Kane School District -- Proposing a 10.5% increase
17. Nebo School District -- Proposing a 1.5% increase
18. Unitah School District -- Proposing a 7.4% increase
19. Salt Lake City School District -- Imposing a judgment levy
20. Salt Lake City -- Imposing a judgment levy
21. Beaver School District -- Proposing a 6.1% increase
22. Weber School District -- Proposing a 2.7% increase
23. Granite School District -- Proposing a 3.39% increase
24. Davis County -- 24% increase over the certified tax rate
25. Logan City -- Proposing a 24.6% increase in the city’s total tax rate
26. Springville Bond -- Proposed massive $20 million bond
27. Tremonton City -- Proposed $1.55 million bond to finance a new library
28. Granite School District -- Proposed Voted Leeway Increase
29. Carbon School District -- Proposed 19% Voted Leeway Increase
30. Jordan School District -- Proposed Voted Leeway Increase
31. Iron County -- Proposed 52.3% Property Tax Increase
32. Kearns Improvement District -- Proposed 75% Property Tax Increase
33. Granger Hunter Improvement District -- Proposed 54% Property Tax Increase
34. Morgan County -- Proposed 8% Property Tax Increase
35. Davis County -- Proposed 138% Property Tax Increase

Utah is lucky to have such a good taxpayers association. It is very clear from the record that the Utah Taxpayers Association is one of the most effective taxpayer groups in the nation and day in and day out does great service for Utah taxpayers. We are very pleased to work side by side with you.

John Berthaud
President
Nation Taxpayers Union

We appreciate the efforts UTA is making to help maintain Utah’s strong economy by promoting responsible state and local tax policies, legislation, and regulations.

Jack Rigg
BP America, Inc.

TAX SAVINGS $218,900,000

Assisted in the following tax victories:		The most effective and influential group fighting for responsible tax policy and lower taxes is the Utah Taxpayers Association Marty Stephens Speaker Utah House of Representatives
1. Passed SB 2004: restored property tax confidentiality	N/A
2. Restored a Utah State Tax Commission rule: 2-2 tie goes to taxpayer	N/A
3. Passed Fifth sub. SB 154: Initiated competency based education	N/A
4. Avoided General Tax Increase to balance declining state budget	N/A
5. Defeated HB 114: a new state-wide monthly fee on land and cell lines and an increase by municipalities on local phone taxes	$4,800,000
6. Defeated HB 151: the reduction of the vendor discount for nearly all retailers from 1.5% to 1.0% of collected sales	$5,600,000
7. Defeated HB 341: decoupling of the statewide basic property tax levy from the public notice and public hearing requirements of the Truth-in-Taxation law	N/A
8. Defeated SB 138: exemption of the school district voted leeway from Truth-in-Taxation.	N/A
9. Defeated HB 183: Increase in the individual income tax	$90,000,000
10. Defeated Third sub. SB 154: increase in individual & corporate income tax	$97,000,000
11. Defeated Springville bond: recreation center, water park & public safety bldg.	$20,000,000
12. Defeated Tremonton bond: library	$1,500,000
2003 Total Taxpayer Savings	$218,900,000

AUDITING OF BUDGETS

1. Analyzed 40 school district budgets and sent copies to interested members. Attended seven school budget hearings and offered testimony.

2. Analyzed 15 major Utah city budgets and sent copies to interested members. Spoke at eight budget hearings.

3. Analyzed 29 county budgets and sent copies to interested members and the media. Spoke at several budget hearings.

CAMPAIGNS & CONFERENCES

1. Hosted the twenty-fifth annual “Utah Taxes Now” conference.

2. Hosted the third annual “Teed off on Taxes” golf tournament.

3. Addressed dozens of citizen groups and civic groups.

4. Participated in over 50 radio and television appearances, issued five major press releases, and quoted in more than 150 newspaper articles.

LEGAL ACTION

RESEARCH

1. Conducted a study on the impact of declining enrollment on school district finances.

2. Conducted a study on telephone taxes.

3. Conducted a study on the taxation of financial institutions.

4. Conducted a study on total teacher compensation.

5. Conducted a study on tuition tax credits.

On behalf of Barnes Bullets Incorporated I would like to thank you for the exception-al work the Taxpayers Association has put forth in an effort to reduce our tax liability. As a company we understand the vital need for political representation.

Chet Parker
Barnes Bullets, Inc.

LOBBYING & COMMITTEES

1. Lobbied the 2003 legislative general session.

2. Defended Truth-in-Taxation against attempts by the League of Cities and Towns and Special Service Districts to weaken the law.

3. Monitored and testified at Revenue and Taxation Interim Committees, Tax Review Commission meetings.

4. Participated in the Employer’s Education Coalition.

5. Defeated all general tax increases at the Legislature.

6. Lobbied against Salt Lake’s proposal to get into the emergency ambulance business.

7. Opposed Utah Association of Counties’ attacks against Centrally Assessed taxpayers.

One of the few publications I always keep for future reference is The Utah Taxpayer. It contains more information than anything I receive about tax issues that are helpful to me. It is always presented in a way that is easily understood and makes it easier for me to pass on information to my constituents.

Bryan Holladay
West Jordan Mayor

PUBLICATIONS

1. Maintained and updated the Association website – www.utahtaxpayers.org.

2. Published monthly The Utah Taxpayer (newsletter).

3. Prepared and published How Utah Compares pamphlet.

4. Prepared and published Utah School District Comparison report.

5. Prepared the 2003 Utah Tax Summary booklet.

6. Prepared the 2003 Utah Property Tax Rates booklet.

7. Prepared the Eugene & Eunice Utah Family pamphlet.

The Utah Taxpayers Association is a trusted source for tax policy advocacy and analysis. I have found their reports and  newsletters to be extremely informative and useful.

Stan Lockhart
Provo City Council