Utahns are split over GOP Gov. Gary Herbert’s suggested $200 million tax cut this year, a new UtahPolicy.com poll shows.
With $1.3 billion in revenue surpluses to deal with, the governor has suggested what he calls an appropriate tax cut, and he wants the cut to come in the 4.75 percent state sales tax.
UtahPolicy.com pollster Dan Jones & Associates finds:
- 38 percent of Utahns support Herbert’s $200 million tax cut, saying the amount is about right.
- 20 percent want no tax cut at all.
- 15 percent said the tax cut should be more than $200 million.
- 11 percent said it should be less than $200 million.
- While 16 percent didn’t know.
“Utah voters believe it is time for a reduction of taxes, and we found it is regardless of political affiliation,” said UtahPolicy.com pollster Randy Shumway. “Sixty-four percent of voters agree that it is time for Utah to cut taxes to some degree, which includes a majority of Republicans, Democrats, and unaffiliated voters. The amount voters want tax reductions may differ depending on party affiliation, but with 53 percent of all registered voters agreeing with a cut of at least $200 million, Governor Herbert is in a strong position to present his proposed tax cut to the legislature.”
As you might expect, Republican Utahns stand with Herbert on the tax cut amount more than do Democrats and political independents.
And men stand with him more than do women.
Some of the numbers:
40 percent of Republicans like the $200 million amount; only 13 percent say three should be no tax; 17 percent want the tax cut to be higher, 9 percent say it should be less than $200 million; while 15 percent don’t know.
Only 34 percent of Democrats like Herbert’s $200 million number; while 38 percent said there should be no tax cut; 11 percent say the tax cut should be lower, while 8 percent said it should be higher; and 8 percent didn’t know.
Political independents are between the two parties – 32 percent say Herbert’s $200 million number is about right; 22 percent want no tax cut; 13 percent say it should be higher; 13 percent say it should be lower; while 21 percent don’t know.
Forty percent of men say the $200 tax cut figure is about right, while only 36 percent of women agree.
The final 2019-2020 budget will be set by the GOP-controlled Legislature after February revenue estimate updates.
It could be Utah’s hot economy may result in the $1.3 billion tax surplus being even HIGHER after the February numbers come in.
In that case, it’s likely the conservatives in the Legislature will want to give back even more than $200 million.
We’ll have to wait and see on that one.
But we know now that GOP legislative leaders are talking about giving tax relief, no matter what the final figure, in the state’s 5 percent income tax.
Herbert wants the cut to come in the state sales tax.
There could be a compromise, a bit of cut in both taxes.
The passage of Prop 3 – full Medicaid expansion – came with a small sales tax increase.
So if legislators give all tax relief in the state income tax, then the sales tax rate will actually increase.
Survey Methodology:
Poll by conducted by Dan Jones & Associates from January 3 – 15, 2019. 822 Registered voters were interviewed. Data collection was conducted by live call center agents (42 percent landline telephone, 32 percent cellphone), and a portion of the survey was conducted via email invite from an online panel (26 percent). The margin of error for the statewide questions is +/- 3.4 percent, with each congressional district having a margin of error of +/-6.9 percent. Data were weighted by age, political affiliation, religious preference, and congressional district.
