Higher Ed Utah

We have an opportunity tomorrow to show our support for Governor Herbert’s decision to veto SB 229.  This bill would earmark an additional 30 percent (estimated to be $60 million in 2013) of new sales tax revenue for transportation.

I support funding transportation; we all need and use the highways. But as commissioner of higher education I also have an obligation to point out that our state colleges and universities are also in need of state support. Taking this money off the top before the budgeting process begins will make it more difficult for state policymakers to fund necessary increases in a variety of state priorities including Higher Education as the economy recovers.

The Legislature has called a veto override session for this Friday morning; the veto will take 20 votes in the Senate plus 50 votes in the House to override. United Way and their community partners will be holding a rally on Wednesday, May 4, at 10:00 a.m. on the South steps of the State Capitol, to urge legislators to let the Governor’s veto stand.

Given the importance of this issue for Higher Education, I wanted to make everyone aware that I support this rally and will be in attendance in the morning.