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2004 Results of Member Involvement in the Utah Taxpayers Association

2003Victories

Grass Roots Action            Tax Savings

Auditing of Budgets            Legal Action

Research             Lobbying& Committees    

Publications     Campaigns&Conferences
GRASS ROOTS ACTION 35 Tax Alerts!
  
TAX ALERTS REGARDING:
  1. Kane County -- Proposing a 24.41% tax increase -- December 22, 2004
  2. Cache County -- Proposing a tax increase to fund ambulance service -- December 7, 2004
  3. Weber County-- Proposing a massive tax increase -- December 7, 2004
  4. Weber County -- Proposing a 0.10% sales tax increase to fund recreation, arts, museums and parks -- October 28, 2004
  5. Washington County School District -- Proposing a $99 million bond -- October 28, 2004
  6. Wasatch County School District -- Proposing a $9.7 million bond -- October 28, 2004
  7. Orem City -- Proposing a $14 million bond for road and sidewalk improvement -- October 28, 2004
  8. Tooele City -- Proposing a 0.10% sales tax increase to fund a parks, arts, and recreation tax -- October 28, 2004
  9. Morgan County School District -- Proposing a10.3% increase over the existing tax rate -- October 28, 2004
  10. 22 School Districts are proposing property tax increases -- August 17, 2004
  11. Taxpayers Should Vote NO! $23 million South Davis Recreation Bond -- July 12, 2004
  12. Governor agrees to special session to delay streamlined sales tax -- June 17, 2004
  13. Streamlined Sales Tax Update: Special Session & Commission Hearing-- June 15, 2004
  14. Wasatch School District -- Proposed Tax Increase and $44 million bond election -- June 11, 2004
  15. Commission Rule Proposes Three Significant Sales Tax Increases -- June 10, 2004
  16. Cache County School District -- Proposing a 9.3% property tax increase -- April 27, 2004
  17. West Jordan City is proposing three significant property tax increases totaling $16 million -- April 27, 2004
  18. Ogden School District -- Proposing a $156 million bond -- February 3, 2004
  19. Grand County -- Proposing a $2.5 million bond for a new library -- February 3, 2004
  20. Nebo School District -- Proposing a $140 million bond -- February 3, 2004
  21. North Summit School District -- Proposing a $11 million bond -- February 3, 2004
  22. Rich School District -- Proposing a $3.5 million bond -- February 3, 2004


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




The Utah Taxpayers Association (UTA) does not make campaign contributions or treat officials to meals. Yet state policy is rarely developed without its input, the UTA is now the most powerful business association in Utah.

Frank Pignanelli
Deseret News

 

 

The most effective and influential group fighting for responsible tax policy and lower taxes is the Utah Taxpayers Association.

Sen. Curt Bramble

Chair, Senate Revenue and Taxation Committee

 
 TAX SAVINGS  $594,900,000

Assisted in the following tax victories:

The Utah Taxpayers Association is a trusted source for tax policy advocacy and analysis.

Sen. John Valentine

President, Utah Senate

 

Defeated Initiative 1

$195,000,000

Prevented a property tax overcharge by the Tax Commission

$68,000,000

Passed SB115 which restricts bond elections to June and November

 N/A

Passed HB66 which restricts non-exempt state general fund growth to inflation and population growth

N/A

Passed SB163 which protects confidential property tax information

N/A

Defeated HB230 which would have decoupled statewide basic levy from Truth-in-Taxation calculation

$5,700,000

 

Defeated excessive Ogden School District bond

$156,000,000

Defeated excessive Wasatch County School District bond

$44,000,000

Defeated SB60 which would have allowed counties to increase hotel and restaurant taxes

$26,000,000

Defeated SB208 which would have imposed new statewide restaurant and hotel taxes

$9,000,000

Defeated Jones-Mascaro Tax

$88,000,000

Defeated Davis County RAP tax

$3,200,000
2003 Total Taxpayer Savings

$594,900,000

AUDITING OF BUDGETS


  1. Analyzed 40 school district budgets and sent copies to interested members and the media. Attended several school budget hearings and offered testimony.
  2. Analyzed 15 major Utah city budgets and sent copies to interested members and the media. Spoke at several budget hearings.
  3. Analyzed 29county budgets and sent copies to interested members and the media. Spoke at several budget hearings.
CAMPAIGNS & CONFERENCES


1. Hosted the twenty-sixth 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 an analysis on the impact of declining enrollment on urban school district instructional costs per student
  2. Reviewed impact Truth-in-Taxation has had on adjusted statewide property tax revenues

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 2004 legislative general session.
  2. Defended Truth-in-Taxation against attempts by the education lobby to weaken the law.
  3. Monitored and testified at Revenue and Taxation Interim Committees, Tax Review Commission meetings and other task forces
  4. Defeated all general tax increases at the Legislature.


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 2005 Utah Tax Summary booklet.

6. Prepared the 2004 Utah Property Tax Rates booklet.

7. Prepared the Eugene & Eunice Utah Family pamphlet.

Being able to rely on the Utah Taxpayers Association to inform us when issues arise that could have a negative impact on our business allows us to focus more time on what we do best.

Ryan Woolf

Autoliv Inc.