Gov. Herbert lowers flags in honor of Chief Warrant Officer 2 Kirk T. Fuchigami Jr.
SALT LAKE CITY (December 9, 2019) – Gov. Gary R. Herbert has ordered the lowering of the flag of the United States of America and the flag of the State of Utah on Monday, December 9, 2019 to honor the life and service of Chief Warrant Officer 2 Kirk T. Fuchigami Jr., who will be laid to rest that day at Brigham City Cemetery, in Brigham City.
Chief Warrant Officer 2 Fuchigami Jr. was killed in the line of duty on Nov. 20, 2019 in Afghanistan.
The governor has previously issued the following statement:
“Chief Warrant Officer 2 Kirk T. Fuchigami Jr. will forever be remembered. I was deeply saddened to hear of his death during line of duty while defending and protecting our country, and I am heartbroken for his young wife, Mckenzie. Jeanette and I send our deepest wishes and prayers to be with her and his family at this time. His sacrifice and dedication will never be forgotten.”
Flags will be flown at half-staff at all state facilities and public grounds from sunrise until sunset on Monday, December 9, 2019 only. Individuals and businesses are encouraged to fly the flag at half-staff for the same length of time as a mark of respect.
# # #
--
Is That Rental Listing Real?
A BBB Study of Rental Scams Involving Apartments, Houses and Vacation Properties
CONTACTS: Britta Clark, Director of Communications, (801) 506-1057, bclark@mw.bbb.org
WHAT: An in-depth investigative study by Better Business Bureau finds that fraud is widespread in the online rental home and vacation rental market, with 43% of online shoppers encountering a fake listing and more than 5 million consumers losing money to such scams.
WHEN: Release embargoed until Tuesday, December 10, 2019, at 9:30am MT
WHY: Anyone doing an internet search to locate a place to rent faces a high risk of encountering a bogus listing.
VICTIMS:
Ryan Boswell of South Jordan, UT inquired about an apartment online and was asked to send his driver’s license and wire money to a different state.
Cassie Clark near Richfield, UT found her own house listed for rent on a website that was charging people for a deposit on the home. She had people showing up and walking right in, because the scammer from the website told them they could.
About BBB
BBB is a nonprofit, business-supported organization that sets and upholds high standards for fair and honest business behavior. BBB services to consumers are free of charge. BBB provides objective advice, BBB Business Profiles on more than 5.3 million companies, 11,000 charity reviews, dispute resolution services, alerts and educational information on topics affecting marketplace trust. Please visit bbb.org for more information.
-------------------------
For Immediate Release
December 6, 2019
Contacts
Aundrea Peterson | Utah Senate
801-791-3365 | aundreapeterson@le.utah.gov
Jon Ammons | Utah House of Representatives
801-380-1018 | jammons@le.utah.gov
President Adams and Speaker Wilson Statement on Increased Tax Cut
We want to commend dedicated Utahns, businesses and policymakers for another extraordinary
year. Our robust economy makes possible a well-deserved tax break for Utah families. We support the Governor’s request to double the planned tax cut from $80 million to $160 million as part of the tax reform effort. An updated tax reform proposal will be released today that will include an increased tax cut for consideration by the Tax Reform and Equalization Task Force at Monday’s meeting.
The disparity between income and sales tax revenues in today’s released revenue estimates is another testament to the necessity of creating a stabilized and balanced funding structure that reflects our changing economy. This new structure will enable us both to meet the needs of today and to embrace the opportunities of tomorrow.
###
----------------------------
For Immediate Release
Contact:
Tony Young
Media Relations Manager
tonyyoung@utah.gov | 801-538-8722
Utah Office of Outdoor Recreation Director Position Available
SALT LAKE CITY (Dec. 6, 2019) — The Utah Governor’s Office of Economic Development (GOED) announced today that Tom Adams, director of the Utah Office of Outdoor Recreation (UOOR), has accepted a new role as chief operating officer at Petzl North America.
“Since his appointment in January 2016, Tom Adams has played a significant role in the success of Utah’s outdoor recreation industry and contributed to Utah’s strong economic development,” said Val Hale, GOED executive director. “His work and service in the outdoor industry will have a lasting effect on the entire state. We thank Tom for his dedicated service and wish him continued success as he embarks on a new professional opportunity.”
The Utah Office of Outdoor Recreation is part of GOED, and its director reports to the agency’s executive director. Applications for the director of the Utah Office of Outdoor Recreation are being accepted through Dec. 19 on the Utah state jobs website (see: statejobs.utah.gov/jobseeker, select: 063 – GOED in the department field, job number: 22205). We anticipate the appointment of a new director in the next few months.
In his role as UOOR director, Adams oversaw the state’s outdoor recreation industry vision and worked with public and private sector leaders to establish policies and programs. Adams helped introduce two new Legislature-authorized grant programs, the Utah Children’s Outdoor Recreation Education (UCORE) and Recreation Restoration Infrastructure (RRI) grants. Arguably most impactful, he worked with the Legislature to increase funding of the Utah Outdoor Recreation Grant (UORG) from $100,000 to $5 million a year. UORG has funded 155 projects in 22 Utah counties with almost $80 million in project value.
“Utah’s mountain and desert landscapes have given me countless gifts and have shaped who I am today,” said Adams. “Serving as director of the Utah Office of Outdoor Recreation for the last four years has been an honor, and the perfect way to serve the state my family and I call home.”
Adams has more than 25 years of experience in the outdoor industry. Before his employment at GOED, he worked at Petzl, Liberty Mountain and Black Diamond Equipment.
About the Utah Governor’s Office of Economic Development (GOED)
Under the direction of Gov. Gary R. Herbert, the Utah Governor’s Office of Economic Development (GOED) provides resources and support for business creation, growth and recruitment, and drives increased tourism and film production in Utah. Utilizing state resources and private sector contracts, GOED administers programs in economic areas that demonstrate the highest potential for development. Learn more at business.utah.gov or by calling (801) 538-8680.
-----------------------------------
Gov. Herbert, Lt. Governor Cox and industry leaders to announce funding for
computer science in all Utah schools
What: In celebration of Computer Science Education Week, Gov. Gary R. Herbert and Lt. Governor Spencer J. Cox will join with leaders in the tech industry to announce the dedication of funds in the governor’s upcoming budget to ensure every K-12 student in the state of Utah has access to computer science education. The governor will proclaim the second week in December as Computer Science Education Week in Utah.
Additionally, local industry partners will make a special announcement about their unprecedented support of computer science education in Utah.
Who:
Gov. Gary R. Herbert
Lt. Governor Spencer J. Cox
Brad Wilson, Speaker of the House of Representatives
Sydnee Dickson, State Superintendent of Public Instruction
Aaron Skonnard, CEO and co-founder, Pluralsight
Josh James, CEO and founder, DOMO
Fikir Teklemedhin, 10th-grade student, West High School
Where:
Utah State Capitol, Gold Room
350 N State Street
Salt Lake City, Utah 84111
When:
Interactive coding activities for students
Monday Dec. 9, 2019
9:00 a.m. - 10: 00 a.m.
Capitol Rotunda
Note: All students have signed photography waivers and media are encouraged to film in rotunda prior to the announcement.
Announcement
Monday Dec. 9, 2019
10:00 a.m. – 10:45 a.m.
Gold Room
--------------------------------
Press Release
With record low unemployment, USDA finalizes rule to promote work
(Washington, D.C., December 6, 2019) – U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue released the following statement regarding the latest jobs report released today by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL). The jobs report shows the economy added 266,000 new jobs in November with an unemployment rate of 3.5%, which remains at a record 50 year low. Earlier this week, at the direction of President Donald J. Trump, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced a rule to help move more able-bodied recipients of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) towards self-sufficiency and into employment. The rule restores the system to what Congress intended: assistance through difficult times, not a way of life.
“Today’s jobs report is further proof that now in the midst of the strongest economy in a generation, we need everyone who can work, to work. To that end, USDA is laying the groundwork for the expectation that able-bodied Americans re-enter the workforce where there are currently more job openings than people to fill them,” said Secretary Perdue. “Americans are generous people who believe it is their responsibility to help their fellow citizens when they encounter a difficult stretch. Government can be a powerful force for good, but government dependency has never been the American dream. We need to encourage people by giving them a helping hand but not allowing it to become an indefinitely giving hand.”
More from Secretary Perdue can be found in his Arizona Daily Star oped: The dignity of work and the American Dream.
Background on USDA’s Rule:
In 1996, when then President Bill Clinton signed welfare reform instituting the current work requirements for able-bodied adults without dependents (ABAWDs) he said, “First and foremost, it should be about moving people from welfare to work. It should impose time limits on welfare... It [work] gives structure, meaning and dignity to most of our lives.”
With a booming economy that has more jobs than workers to fill them and matches the lowest unemployment rate since 1969, now is the time for every work-capable Americans to find employment. In fact, the latest U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) figures show the unemployment rate is 3.5% and there are 7.0 million job openings. The longer an individual is out of the workforce, the harder it is to re-enter. Now is the time for these individuals to enter, reenter, and remain in the workforce.
To put things in perspective, in 2000, the unemployment rate was 4% and the number of Americans receiving SNAP benefits was just over 17 million. In 2019, during the longest economic expansion in history, the unemployment rate is 3.5% and yet the number of Americans receiving SNAP is over 36 million.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) final rule promotes work for able-bodied adults between the ages of 18 and 49 without dependents and does not apply to children and their parents, those over 50 years old including the elderly, those with a disability, or pregnant women.
Long-standing SNAP statute limits these adults to three months of benefits in a three-year period – unless they work or participate in work training for at least 20 hours per week. The law allows states to apply for waivers of this time limit due to economic conditions, but prior to the rule, counties with an unemployment rate as low as 2.5% were included in waived areas. Under USDA’s rule, states retain their statutory flexibility to waive the time-limit in areas of high unemployment and to exempt a percentage of their ABAWD caseload. Even when working, those who qualify from an income perspective, will still receive their SNAP benefits.
There are multiple ways for individuals to engage and maintain their SNAP benefits, from working, to preparing for work, and volunteering. States have a responsibility to assess individuals as work-capable and must renew their focus on helping SNAP participants to find a path to self-sufficiency. There are a number of tools to assist with challenges. For example, states are provided funding to operate Employment and Training programs, which can provide everything from job training to necessary work supports, such as boots, uniforms, and transit subsidies. States also have access to programs and services provided by other Federal agencies, state and county governments, and local service providers.
Gov. Herbert and Utah Legislature announce consensus revenue estimates for upcoming legislative session
Gov. Herbert asks legislature to double tax cut amount from $80 million to $160 million
SALT LAKE CITY (Dec. 6, 2019) – Gov. Gary R. Herbert and the Utah Legislature jointly announce new consensus revenue estimates for the State of Utah for the coming legislative session.
An estimated $482 million in new ongoing revenues and about $200 million in new available one-time Education Fund and General Fund revenues will be available for appropriation in the 2020 general legislative session.
Legislators have already set aside $80 million for a tax cut as part of their tax modernization package.
“This year’s revenue estimates show that our economy continues to thrive,” said Gov. Herbert. “This success is due to hard-working Utahns. Our continuing efforts to find efficiencies in state government and the success of our economy have helped produce another year of strong revenues. Therefore, I am asking President Adams, Speaker Wilson, and the Utah Legislature to double the planned tax cut from the proposed $80 million to $160 million as part of the tax modernization effort.”
This additional tax cut should be targeted to help low- and middle-income families, Herbert said.
Of the new ongoing revenues, $440 million comes from the Education Fund, which is supported by the income tax. The remaining $42 million comes from the General Fund, supported by the sales tax.
One-time revenues show a similar pattern. Strong income-tax supported Education Fund growth provides $251 million in one-time revenue. But the sales-tax supported General Fund reflects a reduction of $51 million in one-time revenue, due in part to sales tax revenues coming in below projections in FY 2019.
State economists note that this shows the continuing disparity between the growth rates of the income tax and the sales tax.
“I'm glad our economy continues to remain strong and vibrant," Senate President J. Stuart Adams said. “This is another prime example that now is a desirable time to be forward-thinking and improve Utah's tax structure. These revenue estimates highlight the structural imbalance in the state budget we have been working to resolve. The new revenue provides us the opportunity to add additional funding to education while providing Utahns with a tax cut.”
“We are committed to ensuring our best days are ahead of us,” House Speaker Brad Wilson said. “Utah families deserve a dividend on the extraordinary success our state has enjoyed over the past several years, which will come in the form of a significant tax cut. This cut in no way diminishes our commitment to education in the state, which will continue to grow in meaningful ways through the tax reform proposal, which should be released later today.”
The governor’s team is in the process of finalizing his annual budget recommendations, which should be released to the public in early January. The governor has indicated to the legislature that he would like to see a continuing focus necessary to expand funding for education in the upcoming general session.
