August 09, 2016(Salt Lake Tribune) - One consequence of mail-in voting is that the act of democratic participation has a new and important partner, the U.S. Postal Service. And it’s a good partner. The ease of having a postal worker pick up ballots — and take them where they need to go to be counted — has reversed Utah’s long decline in voter participation. A report on last year’s municipal elections from the Utah Foundation found that all 70 cities that … Continued
August 08, 2016(Salt Lake Tribune) - Local governments also face another Utah reality: a growing population that will need growing public services. By 2050, the state can expect 1 million to 2.5 million additional residents, according to Utah Foundation projections. Salt Lake County alone is expected to add 630,000. “We can’t get around the fact that we’re going to need more attorneys for a larger criminal-justice system, and we’re going to need many more working professional staff who are compensated accordingly,” … Continued
August 09, 2016(Deseret News) - However, one factor more directly related to elections in Utah may indeed have an impact. Utah’s convention/caucus system for nominating candidates results in a delegate process not representative of the overall demographics of party members, producing, in some instances, candidates who are equally unrepresentative. That much has been demonstrated by the Utah Foundation, a nonpartisan research group. It has conducted regular studies of the demographic makeup of delegates to Republican and Democratic conventions in Utah … Continued
August 07, 2016(Deseret News) - By all accounts, Utahns are safer now than at any other point in the past two decades. In the Beehive State and across the U.S., crime rates are hitting all-time lows. But public perception hasn’t caught up to the statistics, according to a report from the Utah Foundation. In a recent survey, the foundation found that half of Utah voters said they are more worried about crime now than they were five years ago. Only … Continued
August 07, 2016(Fox 13 News) - Over the past twenty years, violent crime has dropped drastically across America and here in Utah. However, a new study shows crime is still a major concern among Utahans. “Fifty percent of the population say they’re more worried about crime than they were five years ago, and only 28 percent of the population say they’re less worried,” said Shawn Tiegen, a research director at the Utah Foundation. The study on crime and safety is part … Continued
August 08, 2016(Alpine School District) - As you are well aware, Utah County continues to grow at a rapid pace. In Alpine School District, we are excited to welcome an additional 1,600 students for the upcoming school year. Our projected growth by the year 2020 is nearly 5,000 new students. The school board and district staff are currently studying the feasibility of a bond for the November ballot to build various schools to accommodate our growth as well as renovate other … Continued
August 04, 2016(The Spectrum) - Engelman recently put out her own survey asking local voters what their main concerns were. From around 100 responses she found economics, environmental issues and partisan governing were the main concerns for local voters. Results from a similar survey put out by the Utah Foundation showed the number one issue for Utahns was healthcare followed by air quality and K-12 education. Partisan politics ranked number eight on the list behind crime. THE SPECTRUM Much at … Continued
August 03, 2016(UtahPolicy.com) - 56% of Utah voters responding to the statewide Utah Priorities Project survey rated crime as an important concern, ranking it at 4 or 5 on a 5-point scale. Their responses placed the issue at #7 on the top ten list of voter concerns for 2016. At the same time, crime rates in Utah have steadily declined over the past couple of decades. A research brief published today by Utah Foundation cites statistics from the FBI … Continued
August 04, 2016(Fox 13 News) - 56% of Utah voters responding to the statewide Utah Priorities Project survey rated crime as an important concern, ranking it at 4 or 5 on a 5-point scale. Their responses placed the issue at #7 on the Utah Priorities Project top ten list for 2016. At the same time, crime rates in Utah have steadily declined over the past couple of decades. A research brief !published today by Utah Foundation cites statistics from the FBI … Continued
August 03, 2016(KUTV) - Recent polls suggest Utahns are more concerned about crime than they were just a few years ago. On a list of voters’ top concerns, “crime” was ranked at number seven. The poll was created for Utah Foundation, a Salt Lake City-based group that has compiled crime statistics from the last few decades to show trends. The findings suggest that while society may feel growing concern with crime, there has a been a drop in incidents … Continued
August 03, 2016(KUER) - A survey by the nonprofit Utah Foundation found that most voters in the state are highly concerned about crime. Shawn Teigen is a researcher with the Utah Foundation. He says half of respondents said they were more concerned about crime now than they were 5 years ago. “If you look at the past 20 years, you can see that both nationally and in Utah, violent and property crime are decreasing,” Teigen says. FBI data shows … Continued
July 24, 2016(KTVX) - We’re in the middle of a huge election season with the race for the white house, state, and local races on the ballot. So I sat down with Mallory Bateman from the Utah Foundation to talk about the Utah Priorities Project and how important partisan politics is to most Utah voters. Bateman said partisan politics falls in 8th place of most important issues to Utah voters. She said overall Democrats are more concerned with partisan … Continued
July 20, 2016(UtahPolicy.com) - More than half of the voters surveyed as part of the Utah Priorities Project expressed a high level of concern (4 or 5 on a 5-point scale) about partisan politics. The issue ranks 8th on the top ten list of issues identified by voters in the statewide survey. A research brief issued today by Utah Foundation shows the concern was consistent across party lines, though there were significant differences among voter responses to other questions … Continued
July 20, 2016(KUER) - More than half of the voters in Utah were highly concerned about partisan politics in the most recent survey by the non-profit Utah Foundation. The survey also found that unaffiliated and third party voters were a close second in size to Republican voters. Mallory Bateman is a research analyst with Utah Foundation. She says they were surprised that such a high percentage of that group are so concerned about partisan politics. “Over half, so 58%, … Continued
July 19, 2016(Salt Lake Magazine) - However, sometimes just as important are the issues not included in the top ten. The Utah Foundation has identified one such issue that deserves more attention. Coming in at number 20 (out of 21, only liquor laws were of lesser importance): LGBTQ rights. A complex issue in a conservative state dominated by members of the LDS church, the polling data ironically revealed that two-thirds of Utah voters agreed with the statement, “attacking or victimizing a … Continued
July 19, 2016(Davis Clipper) - Domestic violence ranks high on the list of reasons Utahns become homeless, nearly as significant a cause as substance abuse and mental illness. More than half of the Utah voters surveyed as part of the Utah Priorities Project (53 percent) gave homelessness and poverty a high level of concern, ranking it four or five on a five-point scale. The issue ranked 9th among the Project’s top 10 issues of concern. Other facts included in the … Continued
July 16, 2016(The Spectrum) - What also plays into the service provided to seniors are the people who are working in the assisted living industry. A report by the Utah Foundation shows that each county within the state has a waiting list for caregiver respite services due to those same services being underfunded. Dan Bammes, Utah Foundation communications director, explained that the support for caregivers themselves is currently at a low level within Utah. Bammes said there are many people … Continued
July 10, 2016(KTVX News) - Right now, major efforts are underway to address the state’s homeless problem and a recent survey finds it’s a top ten issue on the minds of Utahns. Shawn Teigen works with the Utah Foundation and he joined me on Inside Utah Politics to explain the survey and what it means. Homelessness ranks 9th on the list of biggest concerns to Utahns. They’ve been trying to prioritize their efforts to address the homelessness situation. Most people … Continued
July 11, 2016(Salt Lake Tribune) - The notion that homeless people are all drug addicts or mentally ill, officials say, is misguided. Nonetheless, a recent report from the Utah Foundation — a nonpartisan, nonprofit public-policy research group — states that 29 percent do suffer from mental illness and 23 percent are substance abusers. The foundation’s “research brief” on homelessness and poverty highlights homeless subgroups and the ongoing challenges facing Utahns who seek respite in Salt Lake City from homeless-service providers. The … Continued
July 10, 2016(UtahPolicy.com) - This week’s question: The Republican and Democratic national conventions are coming up fast. How do you think they will turn out (coup? revolt?), and will the parties be unified post-convention, ready for a classic general election? Steve Kroes, president, Utah Foundation. I see that by procrastinating my reply, I have the benefit of this morning’s news that Bernie Sanders will endorse Hillary Clinton next Tuesday. With that added knowledge, I feel pretty confident that the … Continued
July 07, 2016(UtahPolicy.com) - Domestic violence ranks high on the list of reasons Utahns become homeless, nearly as significant a cause as substance abuse and mental illness. More than half of the Utah voters surveyed as part of the Utah Priorities Project (53%) gave homelessness and poverty a high level of concern, ranking it four or five on a five-point scale. The issue ranked 9th among the Project’s top ten issues of concern. Other facts included in the research … Continued
July 06, 2016(Fox 13 News) - Mental health and substance abuse are some of the causes we hear a lot about when it comes to homelessness, but a new study adds domestic violence as one of the top reasons. The Utah Foundation surveys voters to find out what priorities matter most to them. No. 9 on their list is homelessness and poverty, particularly some of the resources available to vulnerable populations. There are an estimated 13,460 Utahns who are homeless on … Continued
July 06, 2016(Deseret News) - Less than half of conservative Utahns rate homelessness and poverty of high concern compared to 75 percent of liberals, according to a Utah Foundation report released Wednesday. People’s incomes also appeared to influence their concern over the issue with 63 percent of people with annual incomes under $25,000 rating homelessness and poverty as high concerns compared to 45 percent for respondents whose incomes exceed $100,000, according to the foundation’s Utah Priorities Project survey of a … Continued
July 02, 2016(Salt Lake Tribune) - Yes, there is a disconnect between delegates and mainstream voters. There is also a disconnect in the number of people who attend caucus meetings and those who vote in the primary. Delegates vie to be actively involved in the selection process of candidates. Listening to neighbors is one requirement of a delegate. The Utah GOP website states, “As a delegate it is your job to listen to your neighbors, ask questions of the candidates and … Continued
June 23, 2016(The Spectrum) - Smith, a former State Charter School Board member, noted that for charter schools to succeed there has to be a collaborative effort not only between the State Board of Education, the Utah State Office of Education and charters schools but an inclusion of the districts as well. According to Smith, one issue that has created a wedge between charters and districts has been the money that is allocated to the charter schools from the districts. … Continued
