Press Release: Better Utah statement on first day of tax reform town halls

Salt Lake City, UT – Today, the Tax Restructuring and Equalization Task Force will hold the first of eight town hall meetings around the state to hear public comment on the issue of tax reform. Lauren Simpson, policy director for Alliance for a Better Utah, issued the following statement: 

“If there’s one thing Utahns across the political spectrum can agree on, it’s that this process is going too fast. Eight town halls for the entire state over the span of a month during vacation season is not enough opportunity for the public to both give input and be educated on the purpose of tax reform. We sincerely hope the Legislature slows this tax train down and creates more opportunities for education and listening. To ensure they’re doing their due diligence, lawmakers should push this issue out until the 2020 general session.

“Going forward, progressive, holistic tax reform should benefit low-income Utahns and families, who already struggle to make ends meet. As members of the Task Force continue to work on this issue, we hope they steer clear of raising the sales tax on food and lowering the money available for education, either through reducing the income tax or allowing those funds to be spent on other things. 

“Tax reform is an important step into the future for Utah, and we hope the Task Force takes the time to develop a tax structure that will truly benefit our communities.”

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Alliance for a Better Utah is a good government advocacy and watchdog organization based in Salt Lake City. The organization works to improve the lives of all Utahns by ensuring balance, transparency, and accountability in Utah politics, policy, and government. More information at www.betterutah.org.

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