New Utah House speaker calls for even larger tax rate cut as Legislature convenes

By Lisa Riley Roche and Katie McKellar, Deseret News | Updated - Jan. 28, 2019 at 1:16 p.m. | Posted - Jan. 28, 2019 at 11:55 a.m.

Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes

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SALT LAKE CITY — Newly sworn-in House Speaker Brad Wilson began his first few minutes behind the dais calling for an even bigger challenge than Gov. Gary Herbert gave lawmakers in his budget proposal.

Rather than working toward a $200 million net tax cut, Wilson said he's suggested two legislators now working on writing a tax reform bill to shoot for an even bigger cut to the sales tax rate while broadening the tax base — one he said would be the "largest single tax cut in Utah's history."

"A $200 million tax cut is good," Wilson said. "Something great would be to deliver the largest single tax cut in Utah’s history, to the tune of at least $225 million."

Without a tax "restructuring," Wilson said Utah will run into financial trouble down the road. Utah's general fund will be "gobbled up," he said, "and we will be unable to fund roads, public safety and basic government programs."

"This work will not be easy, but it must be done," he said.

On top of calling for tax reform, Wilson also wants another big change: a new state office building.

"I believe it is time to strengthen the ties between the people of Utah and our seat of government. Due to its location, the Capitol complex isn’t particularly accessible," Wilson said. "And because I don’t want to begin my tenure as speaker by inciting riots in the gallery, I won’t even think about articulating how fun it is trying to find parking up here."

So, Wilson said he's urging the Executive Appropriations Committee to work with the Capitol Preservation Board to draft a proposal to replace the state office building with "a new facility where Utahns can come to experience a deeper connection to our state’s rich history, as well as solve the parking problem."

Senate President Stuart Adams, R-Layton, left, is sworn in by former Senate President Wayne Niederhauser, R-Sandy, at the start of the 2019 Legislature at the state Capitol in Salt Lake City on Monday, Jan. 28, 2019. Photo: Steve Griffin, KSL

New Senate President Stuart Adams devoted much of his opening day speech to history, calling Founding Father Samuel Adams, for whom his grandson was named, "a cool guy. He reminds me of so many of you."

Adams mentioned taxes only in passing, asking senators to "imagine a sustainable, broad, fair tax system" among a long list of challenges that also included improved air quality and health care that is affordable for all.

Also on the Senate leader's list to envision is "the old state office building removed and replaced with a new building, with additional parking, allowing the public more functional access to their state Capitol."

That statement elicited a brief murmur among obviously surprised senators before they began applauding. Adams also took the opportunity to remind senators Utah has been selected by the U.S. Olympic Committee to bid for a future Winter Games.