FILE – Utah Gov. Gary Herbert speaks during the Utah Taxpayers Association 2019 legislative outlook conference Monday, Jan., 7, 2019, in Salt Lake City. Herbert is pitching his plan of adding new sales taxes while cutting the overall rate, an issue that could be contentious during the upcoming legislative session. Herbert told the Utah Taxpayers Association that economic changes have significantly narrowed the sales tax base, and now is the time to act. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) – Utah governor Gary Herbert has signed a sweeping overhaul of the state’s tax system that lowers income tax while increasing taxes on food, fuel and several services.
The Salt Lake Tribune reports the Republican Herbert defended the bill that cuts taxes by a net total of $160 million during his monthly news conference at PBS Utah.
The plan was criticized for raising taxes on groceries while benefiting wealthier Utah residents. All of the declared GOP candidates for the 2020 governor’s race have announced opposition to the plan. Efforts have begun to overturn it through a citizen referendum.
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