 |
|
|
Upcoming Legislative Session February 3, 2018, 1:47 pmIt's always interesting to see what issue becomes the "hot" issue of the session. Often it's something that no one expects. There are a few big issues that will definitely be discussed. Education funding remains a top issue for most legislators and for most of you. For those that don't know, Utah allocates a higher percentage of funds to education than any other state. Last year, we allocated 42% of state revenues to education with the national average around 30%. That said, we are always trying to find ways to put more into education. Besides funding, my goal is to find ways to empower teachers and reduce barriers. Last year, I listened to the concerns and frustrations of teachers and administrators and passed a bill to pull teacher evaluations back to the local level. This year, I'm working on finding ways to identify, aggregate, evaluate and disseminate best practices from teachers and principals throughout the state. I believe the best source of innovative and effective ideas starts at the classroom level, not at the state capitol. Tax Reform is also going to be a big issue this year. Our Rev and Tax committee has been working all year on ways to simplify our tax structure and provide a more sustainable model. Rather than increasing taxes, we're working to find solutions that would reallocate funds from other sources by identifying unnecessary or outdated programs. I've appreciated the feedback that I've received from many of you on specific issues that are important to you. If there is something that you have concerns about, please let me know. The community news source for Eagle Mountain Utah, Saratoga Springs Utah, Lehi Utah, American Fork Utah, Highland Utah, Alpine Utah, and The Cedar Valley, including Cedar Fort Utah and Fairfield Utah. Copyright 2024 The Crossroads Journal LLC. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
|
