News Articles

Report: Cost of living, government dysfunction rank as top issues for Utahns

May 01, 2024 (Public News Service) - More than three in five Utahns believe the state is on the wrong track and their quality of life is worse today than it was five years ago. A new report by the Utah Foundation paints a bleak picture about how Utah residents feel about their home state. Data in the report found the cost of living and government dysfunction were the most important issues for Utah voters in 2024. Rep. Robert Spendlove, R-Sandy, an economist for … Continued

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President of the Utah Foundation, Shawn Teigen on Wednesday’s Access Utah

May 01, 2024 (Utah Public Radio) - There’s a new report out from the Utah Foundation finding that Utahns’ top concerns are the cost of living and political dysfunction. Secondary issues included environmental concerns and the education system. More than 60% of Utahns believe that Utah is on the wrong track and that their quality of life is worse now than five years ago. And for the first time housing affordability is the No. 1 concern. The 2024 Utah Priorities Project report, … Continued

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Priced Out and Fed Up: Cost of living and government dysfunction are Utahns’ top concerns

May 01, 2024 (Utah Policy) - For the first time, most Utah voters believe the state is on the wrong track and that their quality of life is worse now than five years ago. More than 60% of Utahns believe that Utah is on the wrong track and that their quality of life is worse now than five years ago. These and other findings will be released Tuesday in the Utah Foundation’s 2024 Utah Priorities Project report titled: “Priced Out and … Continued

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Spring 2024 Healthy Communities Roadshow Visits Price

April 30, 2024 (ETV News) - Get Healthy Utah, in conjunction with The Utah Foundation, held their most recent event on April 29 at the Southeastern Regional Development Agency (SERDA) building, with Price being their sixth stop thus far. In recent months, the Utah Foundation created the Healthy Communities Roadshow to bring awareness to policy guides to help promote active living and healthy eating across the State of Utah. Alysia Ducuara, Executive Director at Get Healthy Utah, stated “The purpose of … Continued

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Utahns are ‘fed up and priced out,’ new Utah survey finds

April 30, 2024 (KSL) - SALT LAKE CITY — Utahns are fed up and priced out. That’s the sentiment in a new study of the top issues impacting Utah voters. The study, done by the longtime policy research group Utah Foundation, showed that “housing affordability” and “politicians ignoring voters” are the top two survey responses for the 656 Utahns surveyed. The survey also found that a majority of Utahns – or 3 in 5 – say their quality of life is getting worse … Continued

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“Priced out and Fed Up”: survey finds issues with housing affordability

April 30, 2024 (KSL) - SALT LAKE CITY — Housing affordability is the number-one issue on the minds of Utah voters, according to a new report. According to this year’s Utah Priorities Project report from the Utah Foundation, more than 60% of Utahns surveyed said their quality of life is worse now compared to the early days of the pandemic, or even during the Great Recession. The Utah Priorities Project, which has been running since 2004, surveys voters about their top concerns. … Continued

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Survey: Utah voters say state is on the wrong track heading into elections

April 30, 2024 (KSL) - SALT LAKE CITY — More than 60% of Utahns believe the state is on the wrong track and quality of life is worse now than it was five years ago, according to a new survey from the Utah Foundation. The survey is part of the foundation’s Utah Policy Project, which has occurred each gubernatorial election year since 2004. The report released Tuesday shows the results of having voters prioritize and rank 17 issues when considering … Continued

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Utahns think their quality of life is getting worse. Here’s what they said.

April 30, 2024 (Salt Lake Tribune) - Some Utah voters think their state is on the wrong track. That’s according to a new report from the Utah Foundation. Researchers surveyed 656 voter registered Utah voters. Only 42% of respondents thought the state was “headed in the right direction.” That’s a sharp decrease from the past 20 years of survey results. What’s to blame? “I think a lot of it goes back to that top issue of housing affordability, and those big issues of … Continued

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Looking to buy a home in Utah? We want to hear from you.

April 29, 2024 (Salt Lake Tribune) - In a primer on Utah’s housing market, two housing experts described home ownership as a “fading dream for many renter households.” Just 15% of Utah’s renter households can afford a home that costs between $300,000 and $400,000. That’s nearly $94,000 less than the median sales prices for homes statewide a year ago. Median sales prices for single-family homes, town homes, twin homes (similar to but not the same as duplexes) and condos in spring 2023 ranged … Continued

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Spring sees more students studying, staying at Weber State

April 09, 2024 (Utah Policy) - Weber State University is seeing significant gains in enrollment, retention and completion. New data, measured during the third week of spring semester, shows how university-wide efforts to ensure student success are working. Enrollment: Students want to study at WSU “The numbers show more and more people want to study at Weber,” said Jessica Oyler, vice president of Student Access & Success. This spring, matriculated degree-seeking students at Weber State increased by 2.9% from last year, while … Continued

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How the planned Fairpark redevelopment project could divert money from Salt Lake City schools

March 28, 2024 (Salt Lake Tribune) - Salt Lake City may one day see major league home runs, but the city’s school district feels the state is pitching it a financial curveball. The plan to redevelop and invest in a swath of the Fairpark neighborhood that could include a potential Major League Baseball stadium flows from HB562, a measure state lawmakers passed this year that also aims to issue up to $900 million in bonds toward such a stadium in an attempt to lure a team … Continued

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Utah voters and leaders agree cheaper housing should be the state’s No. 1 policy priority

March 20, 2024 (Deseret News) - The cost of living in Utah — thanks to expensive housing and inflation — is among the top concerns for the state’s voters this year, according to a new poll released by the Utah Foundation. Another top concern? That lawmakers are turning a deaf ear. Housing affordability was the No. 1 issue Utahns want state policymakers to address, according to the think tank’s policy priority survey which they conduct every gubernatorial election cycle. But politicians … Continued

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Report: Utah homeownership increasingly out of reach for many

March 20, 2024 (Public News Service) - For generations, homeownership has been synonymous with the American Dream, but a new Utah report shows housing affordability is at historic lows, with millennials seeing the largest decrease in housing affordability during what the report calls “peak household formation years.” Steve Waldrip, senior adviser for housing strategy and innovation for the State of Utah, said while Utah has some of the highest levels of homeownership in the country, wages haven’t increased at the same rate home prices … Continued

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Gov. Cox, others, to speak at Utah Foundation luncheon

March 19, 2024 (Utah Policy) - The Utah Foundation is pleased to announce our celebration of the 20th Anniversary of the Utah Priorities Project with a discussion about what matters most. March 20th 11:45am until 1:30pm The Grand America Hotel The Annual Luncheon will include a conversation with Governor Spencer J. Cox about the state’s policy priorities. We will also hear from three speakers discussing some of the most important policy topics of the year: Carly Maloney is a Viewmont High School teacher and Utah’s 2024 Teacher … Continued

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Report: Utah homeownership increasingly out of reach for many

March 19, 2024 (Public News Service) - For generations, homeownership has been synonymous with the American Dream, but a new Utah report shows housing affordability is at historic lows, with millennials seeing the largest decrease in housing affordability during what the report calls “peak household formation years.” Steve Waldrip, senior adviser for housing strategy and innovation for the State of Utah, said while Utah has some of the highest levels of homeownership in the country, wages haven’t increased at the same rate home prices … Continued

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It’s easier to find an apartment in Salt Lake City than in these other Western cities, report says.

March 15, 2024 (Salt Lake Tribune) - Salt Lake City’s rental market is less competitive and finding an apartment is now easier than in other Western cities. A new study from RentCafe examined Yardi Matrix data for 137 markets to create a “market competitive score” based on five metrics: apartment occupancy rates, average days a unit is vacant, the number of prospective renters per vacant unit, how many renters choose to renew their lease, and the number of new apartments built. Salt … Continued

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Opinion: How schools are fighting a hunger crisis among Utah families

March 12, 2024 (Salt Lake Tribune) - Many of us consider ourselves food experts. We certainly know exactly what we prefer to eat after all. Food has also gained additional attention over time as it is and has been one of the drivers of recent inflation and perhaps one of the more palpable ones. In response to elevated prices, many people turn toward cheaper and often highly processed food as a household budget release valve. Some may even need to purchase less … Continued

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5 Numbers that Show Just How Bad Utah’s Housing Crisis Is

March 08, 2024 (Salt Lake Tribune) - Utah leads the nation in homeownership rates. But now young people in the state are struggling to achieve the American dream. And a new report from the Utah Foundation found that Californians moving here are not entirely to blame. “The current housing crisis is not entirely a function of current migration trends, Utah’s recent economic growth, or pandemic related supply chain issues,” John Salevurakis, the report’s author wrote to The Tribune. “The reality is that … Continued

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Homeownership and the American Dream – Elusive for First-Time Homebuyers

March 04, 2024 (Utah Policy) - Friday, the Utah Foundation released a new report on homeownership. Homeownership is both a symbol of achieving the American Dream and a way it is achieved. However, the housing affordability crisis affects anyone looking to become a first-time homebuyer. Ultimately, high home prices are putting the American Dream out of reach for a growing share of Utahns. Highlights of the report: Recent household incomes were only about 20% higher than in 1985, while home prices … Continued

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The Fading American Dream? Utah Study Delves Into the Realities of Homeownership

March 04, 2024 (Deseret News) - A LendingTree survey found that 94% of Americans view owning property as part of the American dream, while 51% of renters surveyed fear they will never be able to afford their own home. The Utah Foundation recently released a new report on the state of the housing market regarding prospective buyers and found that the fear of never owning property is not necessarily irrational, specifically in Utah. “The ongoing lack of home affordability in Utah has likely … Continued

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