SALT LAKE CITY (AP) – Supporters of a citizens’ referendum say they have bipartisan support to overturn a new Utah tax reform law. The Deseret News has reported that two Republican and one Democratic gubernatorial candidates signed the petition during a news conference at the Capitol on Monday.
Organizers say they have submitted signed petitions to the lieutenant governor’s office. It oversees the state elections office.
The Republican-controlled Legislature passed a bill in a special session earlier this month that lowers the state income tax rate and provides tax breaks to low- and moderate-income residents.
Republican Gov. Gary Herbert signed the measure into law last week.
The tax rebates are sugar sprinkled over a poison apple. Increased food tax and increased gasoline tax and new taxes on a plethora of services is going to cost Utah tax payers more than the legislator has professed to believe. Gas tax increases increase the cost of goods and services overall. So not only will people have more food tax, prices will be higher and buying power will decrease. A one time check in April is not going to help buy food the other 11 months of the year. It is BAD bill and I encourage everyone to sign the referendum petition.
My fellow Utahans, this is a bait and switch program whose only purpose is to raise revenue. They want you to think that they’re lowering property taxes in exchange for an increase in food and gas taxes but it’s a scam. The reason is they can always re-up the percentage on property taxes the following year without a bill, and the county assessor will simply increase the valuations of your home properties so you wind up paying more in taxes anyway across the board. They lose nothing and they know it with this phony bait-and-switch bill. This is meant to make you think they are lowering property taxes when in reality your property taxes will continue to rise. Meanwhile, you are now paying through the nose for food and gas and that will never go down. This is a horrible bill and should be repealed immediately. Shame!