Pay for big families

This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2013, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

I agree with Kelly Francis in "More kids, pay less" Forum, Feb. 9) — families with more children should pay more to educate them by trimming the personal-exemption tax credit.

Several years ago, a bill was introduced in the Legislature to limit the number of deductions parents could take for their children, thus increasing their tax liability and making them pay their fair share for services they used, such as schools.

In stepped whiny Gayle Ruzicka of the Utah Eagle Forum, calling the bill anti-family. Of course, this mother of 12 would complain about making people pay their fair share. Our legislators backed down.

It's time people with large families pay their fair share. You don't get a discount when you buy a large house for your large family — you pay for what you use. You don't get a discount for buying a large SUV because you have a large family — you pay for what you use. The same goes for fishing licenses, Lagoon, symphony and Jazz tickets.

Wake up, legislators! Making people pay for what they use is the fairest way to increase revenue.

Paul Hart

Salt Lake City