Springmeyer Criticizes Special Session Proceedings
Posted By JM Bell on September 25, 2008
Springmeyer Criticizes Special Session Proceedings
Candidate questions source of revenue projections, necessity and wisdom of proposed cuts
SALT LAKE CITY – Democratic Utah gubernatorial candidate Bob Springmeyer today raised serious questions regarding the transparency, accountability, and wisdom of this year’s special session proceedings. Specifically, Springmeyer asked for the source that substantiates the claimed $272 million shortfall, and for the reasoning to justify balancing the budget on the back of state employees and the general, education, and transportation budget. Springmeyer also asked why the Governor did not take charge and balance the budget on his own, under the powers delegated to him by the Budgetary Procedures Act. For over thirty years, Springmeyer has operated a management consulting and economic research business, Bonneville Research, which specializes in government and the business community.
“This year’s special session was brought about by a Governor who did not have the willingness to assume the responsibility to adjust the budget on his own,” said Springmeyer. “The Governor and Legislature are using budgetary figures that are inconsistent with recently released public information. Furthermore, many of the proposed cuts, if enacted, would have serious long-term effects on the economic and social well-being of our state. Clearly, we deserve better than this.”
According to the September 16 Utah State Tax Commission Revenue Summary, or TC-23, the state’s sales and use taxes are only $56 million less than forecast for 2008. Income tax is up 1.2% over last year, which is only slightly less than the projected increase. In addition, information on the status of the Utah economy for the first two months of this fiscal year apparently has not even been calculated. These indicators conflict with the claimed $272 million shortfall—and in recent days, even dollar figures for the claimed shortfall have varied. Accordingly, in the interest of public participation and democratic values Springmeyer is asking the Governor and Legislature to make their data accurate and transparent.
Springmeyer also objected to the applying a $272 million budgetary cut to the General Fund and Transportation Fund would result in a cut of over 10%– far too great for the needs of our state. Cutting the salaries of state employees would harm the economy, since, clearly, the vast majority of state employee expenditures occur in Utah. Instead of these outcomes, Springmeyer proposed to use a portion of the rainy day fund to offset this unanticipated shortfall. “We need to keep the Utah economy moving forward,” said Springmeyer.
Bob Springmeyer, who has encouraged best practices in business and local government in over thirty years as a management consultant, is seeking election as Governor with his running mate, retired SBA executive Josie Valdez. Springmeyer and Valdez are running on a platform of better government, better education, better jobs, and better healthcare. For more information, visit www.bobforgov.com.
I can see Bob’s point of view on a few things, like more transparency concerning the numbers.
However, under NO circumstances, other than an “emergency”, should we be dipping into the Rainy Day fund!! That kind of thinking is not fiscally sound. Look at California.
The National Economic Crisis that is affecting the Nation is also affecting Utah. However, it’s not yet an “emergency” for our State.
If things keep going downhill on the National level, then yeah, at some point we will have to dip into Rainy Day Piggy Bank. But not yet.