While lawmakers are still deciding whether to approve giving tax credits to parents who send their children to private schools, the Utah House Tuesday signed off on a plan to gauge public opinion on the measure during the Nov. 2004 ballot.
"This is a very serious tax question that we ought to let the public weigh in on," said Rep. Sheryl Allen, R-Bountiful. Her ballot question would not be legally binding, but would give lawmakers an idea of what the public wants, she said. It was approved 41-32 and moves to the Senate for consideration. The last time such a question was put before voters was when they were asked if the state should pursue its chance to host the Olympics.

Meanwhile, the Utah Senate has already approved giving parents a $2,132 income tax credit for each child they send to private school. But Tuesday's vote on the resolution indicates the bill may face problems when the bill reaches the representatives.

The tax credit is sponsored by Sen. Chris Buttars, R-West Jordan, who runs the Utah Boys Ranch, a residence for 160 troubled kids that includes a private k-12 school, West Ridge Academy. His measure also would grant a tax break to donors and businesses that support private schools.

Buttars said Allen's bill is just a delaying tactic by opponents of his plan who say it will take money away from cash-strapped public education.

He is confident the bill will be signed into law. But because he's anticipating some dissension when it gets to the House, he said the measure will be packaged with Sen. Tom Hatch's education bill.

There was plenty of House debate Tuesday about exactly how to ask the voters their opinion.

In the end, it was decided to ask voters: "Should Utah's public tax dollars or potential tax dollars be used to fund private education through the use of a tuition tax credit?" Lawmakers voted to remove a reference to religious schools from the question.

Rep. Jim Ferrin, R-Orem, said the only thing the ballot question would answer is how much money could be spent to sway voters.

"I can imagine that a whole lot of dollars would flow into this issue from both sides," he said, adding that the resolution is away to advance the cause of those wanting to defeat the tax credits and will do little to find out what the public thinks.

"It's a complex issue and it can't be sold like a box of cereal on the television," Ferrin said.

"I really have a lot more faith in our voters than that," Allen responded. "I believe on this very very important policy issue, we ought to let them weigh in on it."

Utah is last in the nation in per pupil funding and has the largest class sizes.

Gov. Mike Leavitt said he will oppose the tuition tax credit bill unless the Legislature finds a way to adequately fund public education.