The standoff between the Legislature and governor over tax cuts may be nearing an end, Gov. Mike Leavitt said Wednesday, though he is not optimistic the resolution will be easy.
"We're moving toward a satisfactory solution," he said after meeting with some Republican leaders of the Legislature. Leavitt spoke during his monthly press conference, to be broadcast Thursday by KUED-Channel 7.The governor and lawmakers have been battling, not over whether there should be a tax cut, he added, but about how much the cut should be.
The disagreement is extremely complex because the state's budgetary picture keeps shifting, he said. Since the budgetary process began, six different "revenue events" have happened, causing changes in state fiscal calculations.
"It's still a little unclear what all of those will mean," Leavitt said. "It's more of an art than a science."
Depending on how figures are added up, the proposed tax cuts range from $45 million to $145 million, he said. But what's certain is that taxes will be cut, Leavitt added.
Asked about the chances of a gubernatorial veto, which would force the Legislature to return for another try at passing a budget acceptable to him, Leavitt said, "I think that we're a long way from talking about that sort of thing."
Leavitt did not specifically rule out a veto. Leavitt said he thinks a budget will be worked out that he and the Legislature can agree on. "If not, we'll keep doing it."
The governor confessed that a worry he has is about how property-tax assessors will react to the talk about cutting property taxes.
Another concern is how to counter the demand from legislators that government growth should be capped.
"Do you call roads more government? I don't think you do. Do you call more textbooks more government? I don't think you do."
Another essential may be more prison space. Should an increase in cells be considered growth of government? Leavitt says it should not.
Another priority about which he confessed he feels "passionately" is help for highly impacted schools. He said he is not sure how much money will come out of the Legislature for this program.