Letter: Use tax increase to cover basic edu..

This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2014, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

I understand that the Utah State Senate voted in favor of a property tax increase on Tuesday that could mean as much as $100 million for public education over the next few years. However, rather than using that money to cover basic education needs, a last-minute amendment would divert it all to help fund Speaker Lockhart's technology initiative ("Money for Utah school equalization hijacked for tech initiative," Tribune, March 4)

As a teacher, father, and grandfather of Utah public education students, I consider this action to be a misalignment of priorities in our public education needs. The Legislature needs to first fund the following basic public education needs before considering new projects, such as HB131:

• Fully fund new student growth.

• A minimum 2.5 percent increase on the WPU.

• Social Security/retirement as a separate line item.

• Restore at least two days of educator professional development.

Technology resources are important, but these basic needs must be met first.

David O. Bettinson

Millcreek

Letter: Use tax increase to cover basic education needs