Study Shows Impact On Education From Two Decades Of Tax Law Changes

November 29, 2016 (Utah Public Radio)

A new report by the Utah Foundation has found that changes to Utah’s tax policy have cost public schools $1.2 billion annually.

According to the report, the amount of school-supporting taxes Utah residents paid for each $1,000 of personal income fell from $39 to $28 between 1995 and 2014.

“Tuition is having to cover more and more of the cost,” said Utah Foundation Research Director Shawn Teigen. “Tuition used to cover about a quarter and now it covers about half just because there is not enough money to go around either for K-12 or for our colleges and universities in the state.”

Utah Foundation researchers looked at changes to Utah’s tax code like the Truth in Taxation process and a 1996 constitutional amendment that allowed income tax revenue to be diverted from K-12 schools to support higher education and how those affected school funding.

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