Utah News

When some Wasatch County residents opened their 2022 property tax bills and saw that their taxes had nearly doubled, they knew something was wrong. What they didn’t know was that they were about to uncover a systemic failure in Utah’s property tax assessment system — one that creates unfair winners and losers among taxpayers.

In 2023, three Wasatch County taxpayers filed a lawsuit against the county assessor and State Tax Commission, exposing a troubling pattern of noncompliance with state law. Their investigation revealed a startling truth: While about 60% of property owners faced substantial tax increases, roughly 34% — including all commercial properties — actually received a 20% tax decrease. How did this happen in a state whose constitution requires fair and equitable taxation? Our lawsuit, which is just asking the court to order the defendants to follow the law, is still going through the painfully slow legal process. However, our more recent analysis shows that problems exist throughout the state in almost every county.

The answer lies in a critical failure to follow the law. Since 1993, the Utah Code has required county assessors to use computer-assisted mass appraisal systems to reassess ALL properties annually — not every five years, not when convenient. When properties aren’t uniformly reassessed, it creates a hidden shift in the tax burden. Since the majority of county revenue comes from property taxes, those whose properties are reassessed end up shouldering a disproportionate share of the county’s expenses, effectively subsidizing those whose properties remain undervalued.

We began our investigation in August 2022 and reported to the Wasatch County Council the problem we observed. In late 2022, the state auditor’s office received multiple complaints. They then began to assemble a database of the property tax data from all 29 Utah counties. Using their database, our investigation expanded beyond Wasatch County, and the results are troubling:

• Only 24 of 29 counties even responded to the state auditor’s request for data. Of those 24, only 13 provided sufficient data for analysis.
• Only three counties — Salt Lake, Davis and Washington — demonstrated good performance, achieving over 90% compliance with reassessment requirements.
• The remaining 26 counties fell significantly short of legal requirements.

The State Tax Commission, tasked with oversight and enforcement, has failed in its fundamental duties. During a public hearing in August 2022, a Tax Commission representative admitted that the Wasatch County assessor “did not comply with the law but did better than last year” — as if partial compliance with state law were somehow acceptable. Wasatch County residents elected a new tax assessor in the 2024 elections!

This systematic failure demands immediate reform:

1. The Legislature must actively monitor the Tax Commission’s oversight performance.
2. The Tax Commission needs to integrate the state auditor’s database into its management process.
3. All counties must be required by law to submit annual property tax records.
4. Non-compliant officials must face real consequences including removal from office if necessary.

The current system isn’t just bureaucratic inefficiency — it’s a hidden tax shift that unfairly burdens some property owners while giving others an unearned break. When some property owners pay more than their fair share, it undermines the very principle of equitable taxation enshrined in our state constitution. This problem is particularly critical in years of high inflation, as has occurred in recent years.

The solution isn’t complicated. Salt Lake, Davis and Washington Counties have proven that over 90% compliance is achievable. What’s lacking isn’t capability but accountability. As taxpayers, we deserve a system that fairly distributes the cost of county services across all property owners — not one that creates hidden winners and losers based on which properties an assessor decides to reassess.

The path forward requires transparency, accountability and a commitment to following existing law. Our county services depend on property tax revenue, but that burden must be shared equitably among all property owners. It’s time for Utah to fix its broken property tax assessment system and ensure that everyone pays their fair share — no more, no less.

Affordable and reliable energy is the spark that keeps Utah shining — powering everything from the lights in our homes and the phones in our pockets to the unstoppable momentum of our booming economy. It’s essential to our quality of life and is the engine driving our state’s growth.

As we gear up for the 2025 legislative session, the Utah Senate majority is committed to pursuing bold energy strategies that ensure our state stays ahead of the curve in innovation and independence, building on the progress we’ve already made.

To maintain affordability and reliability while meeting the demands of future technologies — such as artificial intelligence, electric vehicles and advanced manufacturing — we must at least triple our current energy production. This is no small task, but Utah’s proactive approach ensures we are ready to rise to the challenge.

Utah is sitting on an energy goldmine — geothermal resources, coal, natural gas and even possibilities for next-generation micronuclear technology. With this diverse energy portfolio, we’re not just meeting our own needs; we’re powering the nation and are working to become a worldwide energy hub. This is more than keeping the lights on — it’s about securing an energy future that’s affordable, reliable and built to last for Utah families and businesses.

Take nuclear microreactors, for example. These aren’t your grandpa’s nuclear plants — they’re smaller, safer and ultra-flexible. Microreactors can provide steady power with a minimal environmental impact, putting Utah at the forefront of a game-changing new energy resource. By embracing this advanced technology, we’re not just ensuring reliable power; we’re strengthening America’s energy leadership while paving the way for a brighter, cleaner future.

Utah is also becoming a national leader in geothermal energy. Our state’s unique geological landscape offers one of the best geothermal potentials in the country. These projects provide a reliable, renewable energy source that operates around the clock, reducing our carbon footprint while meeting growing energy demands. By pursuing innovative geothermal solutions, Utah is poised to become a frontier state for renewable energy development, creating jobs and attracting new investments.

However, having abundant energy resources isn’t enough without the infrastructure to support them.

When you flip on the lights, charge your phone or turn up the heat, you probably don’t think about how that energy gets to you. It’s like magic, right? But it is actually thanks to a sprawling network of transmission lines working behind the scenes, crisscrossing the landscape to deliver power where it’s needed most. Transmission is the unsung hero of our modern energy story — a hero that needs attention if we want to keep the lights on and the power flowing for generations to come. Investing in transmission infrastructure also makes our grid more resilient. Modernized transmission can help prevent widespread outages, adapt to extreme weather and make the entire system smarter and more efficient.

As Utah grows and shifts toward a more diverse energy mix, the importance of transmission becomes even more critical. Think of transmission as the highway system for electricity. Without well-maintained, efficient highways, traffic grinds to a halt. Similarly, without updated and expanded transmission lines, energy can’t get from where it’s generated to where it’s needed.

And it’s not just about keeping the lights on — it’s about unlocking Utah’s incredible energy potential. With abundant resources like traditional power plants, geothermal energy and the potential for cutting-edge micronuclear reactors, our state is ready to lead the nation. But without the ability to move that energy efficiently, it’s like having a Ferrari in the garage with no way to take it for a spin. To truly rev up Utah’s energy future, we need the infrastructure to deliver power where it’s needed most.

But here’s the kicker: Building transmission isn’t easy. It requires collaboration across state lines and local communities and especially with our federal partners. It also needs smart permitting reforms to cut through red tape without cutting corners. If we work together, we can create a power grid that’s ready for whatever the future throws our way.

Powering Utah’s future with innovation and reliability

Investing in energy innovation isn’t just about powering today — it’s about preparing for tomorrow. By leading the way in next-generation energy solutions, Utah is not only securing its future but also setting an example for the nation. We are committed to creating an energy landscape that fosters economic growth, protects ratepayers and ensures that every Utah household and business can depend on affordable, reliable power around the clock.

Together, we will build a brighter, more energy-secure future for Utah and for generations to come. Stay tuned — the 2025 legislative session is going to be electric.

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Dedan Thomas Jr. made a layup and a 12-foot fadeaway jumper to cap a closing seven-point run by UNLV, which defeated No. 22 Utah State 65-62 on Wednesday night.

Utah State’s Mason Falslev missed a 3-pointer in the final seconds, snapping the Aggies’ six-game winning streak.

Jalen Hill led the Rebels (10-7, 4-2 Mountain West) with 15 points, Julian Rishwain finished with 13 and Jailen Bedford had 10.

Thomas added eight points, about half of his season average. But his four points at the end were the most important as UNLV closed with a 12-2 surge.

Tucker Anderson led Utah State (16-2, 6-1) with 19 points, and Ian Martinez added 15.

Though the Aggies had been on a roll, they also won a series of close calls. All six victories during their streak were decided by single digits.

Utah State appeared poised to pull off another such win, going on a 15-3 run to go up 60-53 with 5:25 left. But the Rebels refused to go away, setting the stage for the final winning spurt.

The Aggies were hoping to come close to matching their best Mountain West start. They won their first nine conference games four years ago, but will have to settle for their second-best beginning.

Takeaways

Utah State: The Aggies were held 21 points below the 83.2-point scoring average they took into the game.

UNLV: The Rebels dominated inside, outscoring Utah State 36-20 in the paint.

Key moment

Rishwain made a 3-pointer with 2:23 left to set up the game-ending run, turning a four-point deficit into a one-point game.

Key stat

The Rebels struggled from the 3-point line in the first half, making 2 of 16. They were 4 of 9 over the final 20 minutes.

Up next

Utah State hosts Nevada on Wednesday, and UNLV plays at San Diego State on Saturday.

___

Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here. AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball

Utah Republican policymakers are focused on voter confidence ahead of the 2025 legislative session following an election year that highlighted intraparty division over ballot access and mail-in ballots.

Among top legislators and lobbyists there is a general understanding that the state’s 10-year-old primary process, known as SB54, which permits primary qualification via state convention or signature-gathering, will remain in place.

But key players have opposite ideas of how to increase trust in this unique election system.

House Speaker Mike Schultz and House majority leadership told the Deseret News on Tuesday they support legislation that would require voters to return their ballots at an in-person polling location with ID.

They said that eliminating reliance on signature verification, ballot curing and the U.S. Postal Service will remove reasons of concern for voters and candidates in close races.

Election reform activists Stan Lockhart and Taylor Morgan, as well as the father of SB54, former Sen. Curt Bramble, suggested at a Sutherland Institute event on Wednesday that they support lowering the signature threshold for primary qualification.

This would reduce the role of out-of-state money and signature-gathering firms in Utah GOP primaries while keeping elections accessible to the greatest number of Utahns possible, they argued.

The disagreement between these two approaches is whether the state should prioritize restricting how people vote to maximize security, or prioritize increasing ballot access to maximize voter participation.

What Utah voters say would increase their trust

A new poll presented by the Sutherland Institute at Wednesday’s election policy event found strong trust in Utah elections and identified several ways lawmakers could strengthen trust more.

The poll, conducted by Y2 Analytics, surveyed nearly 1,000 registered Utah voters shortly before and after the 2024 general election. It found that 54% of respondents were “very confident” that their ballot would be, or had been, counted accurately in Utah and that 29% were “somewhat confident.”

Utahns’ overall trust in election results rose from 83% to 87% when asked to rate their confidence in ballot accuracy at the state level.

“To us, what this said is, there isn’t really a big crisis of confidence in elections, at least when you go out to talk to average voters themselves,” said Derek Monson, the chief growth officer at Sutherland Institute, a conservative think tank.

But a significant number of voters believe that policy choices being discussed this year could increase or decrease their confidence in elections, according to the poll.

The proposal that produced the greatest net gain in election confidence was requiring photo ID when submitting a mail-in ballot.

Over half, 51%, of voters surveyed said this change would make them either much more or somewhat more confident in Utah elections and 20% said it would make them less confident for a “net confidence” of 31 percentage points.

Other changes that produced a net gain in confidence were requiring mail-in ballots to be received by Election Day, with 21 points in net confidence; ensuring that election results are known on election night, at 18 points; and requiring election officials to send voters the results of election audits, at five points.

The policy change that produced the greatest net decrease in confidence in election results was requiring voters to cast ballots only on Election Day — 60% of respondents said this change would make them less confident, 19% said it would make them more confident for a total of negative 41 percentage points in net confidence.

Other confidence-decreasing measures include using artificial intelligence to help election officials verify voter signatures, requiring all voters to cast ballots at an in-person polling station on Election Day, and transferring election oversight away from the Lieutenant Governor’s Office.

Vote-by-mail … in-person?

Despite a constant drumbeat from GOP state delegates to repeal SB54, undoing Utah’s dual-path to primary qualification is not on the House Republicans’ “priority list,” according Schultz, R-Hooper.

But the caucus will still be pursuing reforms in response to complaints from losing candidates in the 2024 election cycle over the non-transparency of signature nomination packets, the unreliability of Postal Service postmarks and the subjectivity of ballot signature verification.

The state House Republican leadership team says they have a bill to eliminate these latter two complaints.

Under the proposal, Utah voters would continue to receive mail-in ballots a few weeks before Election Day. But, in order to submit them, voters would be required to travel to an in-person polling location during an early voting period and present a form of identification.

This would maintain the convenience for voters who like to research candidates with their ballot at home or who like the flexibility of voting before Election Day.

But it would also eliminate the opportunity for people to forge signatures on ballots, take the pressure off the Postal Service to meet election deadlines and remove the burden from county clerks of counting late breaking votes after Election Day and reaching out to voters to correct mismatched signatures.

“We’re not against the vote by mail overall, we just think there’s a better way to do it,” Schultz told the Deseret News and KSL editorial boards on Tuesday, pointing to a Pew poll from January 2024 that found 81% of U.S. adults supported requiring people to show government-issued photo identification to vote.

Schultz’ determination to reform vote-by-mail is the direct product of multiple legislative audits that have taken place since he passed a bill requiring them in 2022, he said.

One audit, released in October, found that over 4% of signatures used for primary qualifications were incorrectly counted or rejected. Another one, released in December, identified inaccurate voter rolls and a lack of statutory compliance by some county clerks.

Another major impetus for reforming vote by mail, according to Schultz and Majority Whip Karianne Lisonbee, R-Clearfield, was the extremely close 2nd Congressional District GOP primary where several hundred ballots were rejected with a late postmark at least in part because of Postal Service delays.

If all it takes to avoid uncertainty surrounding which votes will be counted is changing how mail-in ballots are returned, then the changes will be well worth the Legislature’s time, according to Majority Assistant Whip Casey Snyder, R-Paradise.

“The strength of our institutions and the strength of our elections is contingent upon people having total confidence in that,” Snyder said. “If there’s any way that we can improve that confidence and show people that there’s no question here, the better off we’re all going to be as a system.”

Raise or remove ballot obstacles?

Davis County Clerk Brian McKenzie and Utah County Commissioner Amelia Powers Gardner, who formerly served as Utah County Clerk, said the Legislature should be careful about blending mail-in ballots with in-person requirements.

County clerks would need an enormous amount of resources to staff in-person polling locations for 10-14 days prior to Election Day if all Utah voters are instructed to submit their mail-in ballots in-person, McKenzie said.

“It is a significant change for the voters, it is a significant cost impact as well for the taxpayers, and before we make any of those significant changes like that, we really need to make sure that this policy is data-driven and not perception-driven,” McKenzie said.

Swapping signature verification for in-person voter identification could potentially introduce even more human error into the process, Powers Gardner said.

When she oversaw elections in Utah County, Powers Gardner implemented a fast-cast voting pilot project that allowed voters to quickly drop off their mail-in ballots in-person.

Powers Gardner said the experiment resulted in more individuals wrongfully casting multiple ballots because of a lack of safeguards in the check-in and scanning steps that exist for ballots submitted via the mail.

House Democratic Whip Jennifer Dailey-Provost told the Deseret News that one of the minority caucus’ greatest concerns is that their Republican colleagues will capitalize on imperfections in the vote-by-mail process to limit who can conveniently vote.

“We have to be committed to making sure that everybody has the very best opportunity to vote, and any moves to curtail that availability is just anti democratic,” Dailey-Provost, D-Salt Lake City, said.

On Wednesday, the key players who were involved in negotiating the state’s compromise on primary elections agreed that the best next step for the election system is to give voters more candidate choices, not fewer ways to vote.

Bramble said an unintended consequence of SB54 was to create “a cottage industry for paying for signatures” to get on the primary ballot, which has divided the GOP and benefitted candidates with lots of money.

Bramble agreed with Morgan, the executive director of Count My Vote, and Lockhart, a board member at Fair Vote, that the best way to improve the state’s election system and increase trust is to lower the signature threshold to qualify for primary elections.

One bill made public on Tuesday would reduce the signature threshold for statewide primary races from 28,000 signatures to just 1,000.

Measures like this would broaden the number of choices available to voters and increase their ability to select the candidate who best represents their values, Bramble said.

“We shouldn’t fear the voice of the people,” Bramble said.

Utah is a place of opportunity — a state where families thrive, businesses grow and communities flourish. To ensure this legacy continues, we must plan for the future, particularly by preparing Utahns for the workforce of tomorrow. As our economy evolves, so must our approach to higher education.

Our state is fortunate to be home to some of the best universities, and Utah is ranked fifth in the nation for higher education. These institutions — recognized for their innovation, research and ability to turn out highly skilled graduates — provide all Utahns the opportunity to contribute to our economy and create the life they want to live.

However, even the best systems must adapt. Currently, critical industries such as health care, education, social work and technology face a troubling challenge: not enough trained workers are available to fill high-demand jobs. This issue is continuing to grow. In Utah, jobs in computer science, aerospace and defense and engineering are expected to grow 42%, 27% and 40%, respectively, in the next 10 years.

These shortages have real consequences — not just for businesses, but for families and communities across Utah. Companies struggling to find talent may look elsewhere, and our children may feel compelled to leave the state to find opportunities. It’s time to realign our education programs with industry needs.

Bridging the gap between industry and education

One of the most effective ways to prepare our students for success is by fostering stronger collaboration between higher education institutions and industries. Employers consistently highlight skill gaps in potential hires in areas like automation, robotics and systems engineering. They also emphasize the need for “durable” skills such as communication and time management, which reflects the need to reexamine our general education requirements to ensure they are appropriately focused and meaningful.

Addressing these gaps will require innovative approaches and more industry partnerships with universities. Involving professionals in curriculum design ensures students learn the skills employers need today — and tomorrow.

Another method for bridging the gap is by expanding internships, apprenticeships and other hands-on opportunities. Employers overwhelmingly view these experiences as essential, with 64% valuing internships for preparing students for the workforce. Programs like Stadler Rail’s apprenticeship model and Diesel’s Tech Pathway have already proven effective, with participants gaining direct experience and landing well-paying jobs.

Addressing program inefficiencies

While high-demand fields like nursing, accounting, software development and data science consistently produce strong outcomes for graduates and meet pressing workforce needs, other programs pose challenges. In 2022, four higher education institutions across Utah collectively graduated just 14 students in one program and 20 students in another.

One solution could be to consolidate low-enrollment programs into one or two institutions that specialize in them. This approach would reduce duplication that costs students and taxpayers while maintaining access to these niche fields for students who are passionate about them. By concentrating funding and faculty where they can make the greatest impact, we can enhance the quality of education of all programs while freeing up resources to address areas of critical workforce demand.

This initiative isn’t cutting education funding; it’s making every dollar count. By strategically prioritizing resources, we can ensure our students have access to programs that lead directly to rewarding careers.

Realigning higher education

This initiative isn’t cutting education funding; it’s making every dollar count. Our Utah universities must stay relevant and affordable for students, families, local industries, taxpayers and a continued prosperous future. By strategically prioritizing resources, we can ensure students have access to programs that lead directly to lifelong opportunities.