Alas, you can bet the educrats will still be up there begging for more money!

Does that mean that the State of Utah will have to tighten its belt like the rest of us peasants?

Your Utah "educrats" educate children for less money than any state in the nation on a "bare bones" budget. Many of the "bare bones" are cut and struggle to keep the body erect. There is no fat to cut, the muscle is missing and the skin is patchy at best.

Thank goodness our legislature and governor have tried hard the last two years to reverse a thirty year decline in educational spending. It was an uphill climb before the economic slowdown and a major challenge to maintain services now.

Education has never been more needed than in our modern world. Let's hope our economy begins to recover so Utah's children can get an education adequate to prepare them for their 21st century challenges.

Could it be that Governor Huntsman's popularity and governance is a result of a very strong economy during his first term? I hope not. We'll see how well he can handle the legislature in it's upcoming session.

Good job George Dubba - mission accomplished. Guarantee you he has no worry.

Let's hope our economy recovers, indeed.
If and when that happens let's hope Utah doesn't start educating Utah students like the most of the country, where 40% graduate rates are the norm.

A 2007 State of Utah budget surplus of $300 million led to a $220 million tax cut. Rather than thinking of the future, the State cut taxes, planning on a 2008 surplus of $240-408 million. Oops.

Perhaps a tax increase this year to cover the State's budget in the red? Or do we continue to whine that we cannot afford the 42 inch plasma TV and simply must have our taxes cut yet again? Regardless, thank you, Future Generations, for the trillions we have spent of your future earnings.

Alas, when it comes to tightening the belt in the area of State jobs, it always starts at the bottom and works its way up. Unfortunately, it never quite gets tightened past the middle jobs - never the top. What does that tell you? We wouldn't want those making the larger salaries to have to take a cut or reduction in what they make. Tightening the budget never means "across the board". It means those who have little should settle for even less - and be grateful.

How can the state budget go from a major surplus to major deficit in one year? By all accounts, the state's economy, though slowing, is relatively healthy compared with other states.

I am surprised that there has not been more discussion on the impact of the Legislature's changes to the tax code last year. The last couple of years they have made some pretty dramatic changes to the State's tax code, which is probably a greater factor than our economic slowdown.

Too bad the gov and cronies always give such great tax breaks to the businesses. Much like GWB, he takes care of his own fat cat cronies and leaves the little guys to bear the brunt.

Well drink up mates, the excessive tax that we see on alcohol goes towards education.

Drink up me hearties yo ho

Re Tinker: The state legislature has created a tax code that makes tax revenues more volatile and subject to churn in bad times, not to mention cutting taxes for the wealthy every time they get a little surplus instead of placing more of that money into rainy day funds. There is no excuse as to why the rainy day fund shouldn't be flush with billions of dollars. My advice to the state: Save money in times of plenty so you have it when times get bad.

100% accurate. Everyone should contact their legislators and tell them to cut the "chiefs" and not the "Indians" salaries. There are WAY TOO MANY folks in state gov't. that make salaries WAY OVER 100k per year. If all the honchos making over 100k per year took a 10% pay cut it would put a BIG dent in the state budget deficit. Even with a 10% pay cut they'd STILL be making a lot of money. The thing that makes me nervous with the hard economic times is that officials will not do a very good job managing the money that they have and employees who ACTUALLY do the work will be hurt disproportionately. You have to remember that the dept. heads have the MOST access to the budget decision makers so employees and the public should contact their elected reps. to make their voices heard. The public services from both state and local govts. will be severely affected if decision makers aren't forced to "think outside the box". I'll bet it will be MUCH worse next year! YOU AIN'T SEEN NOTHIN' YET!

I wonder how much of the economic problems nation wide are a result of Obama being elected. His election has scared many people, the thought of higher and more taxes have caused concern among those that will be most affected by his policies.

My opinion would be more like the govt. meddling in the economy vis-a-vis the "bailout". When the bailout was first proposed by Bush is when things started to "go south" as far as the stock market. I'm not slamming Bush or Obama, especially since both of them "bought" the banks' predicament lock, stock, and barrel. I just think the market reacts to a lack of confidence from the American public. MORE bailouts will only make things WORSE! It didn't help the confidence factor either when all the execs. from the companies "hurting" were taking plush spa vacations!

Idiots, raise them now.

Funny how history seems to repeat itself. When George W's father was president, as I remember, the economy tanked, the stock market went down, we had a black Friday that was one of the largest down turns in history at that point. Junior has had his ship going in the same direction since day one.

His tax cuts were replicated by our govenor with our great flat tax. If you are middle income, you may save a couple of bucks, but it is doubtful. If you are a high roller, you will save not just thousands of dollars in taxes, but tens of thousands. How can you increase spending (Bush billions upon billions and Huntsman by 10% over the Leavitt administration) and cut taxes that pay for that increased spending?

Obama is definitely not to blame, I just hope he gets the support necessary to dig us our of the hole created by his predicessor.

The best thing I read was the mention of Ron Bigelow. He is one of the smartest Reps on the hill. If anyone can figure things out, he can. Too bad he isn't Governor.