Today, Gov. Walker announced a comprehensive tax reform effort, a priority of the Walker Work Plan, to address both immediate and future needs of Utah.

"My aim is total tax reform," said Walker. "No aspect of the tax system is beyond consideration."

The governor noted that, while Utah’s tax system now operates relatively efficiently from an administrative perspective, the current system will be hard pressed to keep up with growing demands in education, health care, law enforcement and other areas.

"Our state is growing. Our economy is changing," Walker explained. "We need to modernize our tax system to keep pace with change if taxes are to remain fair and broad-based into the future. No taxpayer should have to pay more than their fair share."

Walker identified six principles to guide her reform effort. The tax system should:

• Be fair, just and balanced.
• Support a business-friendly economic environment. F
• ocus on funding critical needs – primarily education.
• Have structural balance – the state must maintain its bond rating.
• Be a tax system for the 21st Century.
• Balance state and local obligations and revenue sources.

Walker added, "The time to begin is now. I feel urgent about this. I wish I could say this is a simple issue and we know just what to do, but it isn’t that easy. It will require time and careful analysis to formulate a comprehensive plan; but in the end I want action, not just another study."

Walker named eight tax policy advisors who will help her formulate her tax plan by Aug. 1, 2004. Those named are tax and fiscal policy veterans Gary Cornia, Pam Hendrickson, Bruce Johnson, Leo Memmott, Ray Nelson, Val Oveson, Keith Prescott and Lynne Ward.

"I believe these advisors are among the best in their field and bring expertise, wisdom and experience to the table," said Walker.

Walker will maintain an open-door policy and welcomes input from legislators and others. Once the plan is prepared, the governor will present it to the public for review and comment. The plan is expected to provide recommendations that could be used as early as next fall to set the following fiscal-year budget.

12:54:53 PM    

The perfect Christmas gift for the angler or hunter on your list may await you at the nearest Division of Wildlife Resources office, fishing and hunting license agent location, or on the Internet.

2004 Utah fishing, small game and combination licenses; two-pole and setline permits; and cougar pursuit permits are now available on the DWR's Internet Web site (wildlife.utah.gov) and may be purchased by those who have a major credit card. The person buying the license can have the license mailed to them (so they wrap it and give it as a gift) or they can have it mailed directly to the person they're buying it for. It may take up to 5 days for the license to arrive in the mail.

The same items may also be purchased at Division of Wildlife Resources offices in Ogden, Salt Lake City, Springville, Vernal, Price and Cedar City.

Licenses may also be purchased from hunting and fishing license agents statewide. All of the agents in the state should receive their licenses by Dec. 10, and many agents will have their licenses before then. Most of the licenses that are now available from the DWR may be purchased from license agents except cougar pursuit and setline permits (only a few agents will be selling these). Cougar pursuit and setline permits are available at all DWR offices and on the DWR's Web site, however.

In addition to providing that special hunter or angler the perfect Christmas gift, those who buy a license can also receive the satisfaction of knowing they're providing funding to manage Utah's wildlife.

• Utah resident costs for 2004 are as follows:
• Fishing license (14 - 64 years old), $26
• Fishing license (65 years old and older), $21
• Two-pole permit, $15
• Setline permit, $15
• Small game license (12 - 13 years old), $11
• Small game license (14 years old and older), $17
• Combination license, $34
• Cougar pursuit permit, $30

"Purchasing a license for someone is easy," says Suzette Fowlks, information specialist with the Division of Wildlife Resources. "If you're visiting a DWR office or our Internet Web site, all you'll need to provide is the person's personal information — name, height, weight, eye color, hair color, date of birth, address and phone number."

Those who purchase a small game or combination license from a license agent or the DWR's Web site also must supply verification (known in Utah as a "blue card") that the person they're purchasing the license for has completed a DWR-approved hunter education course. The course is required for everyone born after Dec. 31, 1965 who wishes to hunt in Utah.

"License agents are not able to verify completion of a hunter education course via computer, the way we can at a DWR office," Fowlks said.

Fowlks said it's also helpful to provide the person's Social Security and driver license numbers, but these aren't required.

Buyers are reminded that the combination license does not include a deer or elk permit and does not allow someone to hunt deer or elk. Hunters may apply for 2004 general deer permits in January. General elk permits will be available, over-the-counter, in June.

The two-pole permit allows an angler, who must also possess a fishing license, to use two fishing poles while fishing at Lake Powell; Flaming Gorge, Newton, Hyrum, Willard Bay, Pineview, Starvation, Yuba, D.M.A.D, and Gunlock reservoirs; Utah Lake; Pelican Lake; Gunnison Bend; the Malad River; the Little Bear River below Valley View Highway (SR-30); and the Bear River, from the Idaho state line downstream, including Cutler Reservoir and the outlet canals.

The setline permit allows an angler, who must also possess a fishing license, to use one setline containing not more than 15 hooks while fishing at Utah Lake; in the Bear River proper downstream from the Idaho state line, including Cutler Reservoir and the outlet canals; the Little Bear River below Valley View Highway (SR-30); and the Malad River.

Resident licenses may be purchased with credit cards, cash, checks or money orders.

DWR offices are open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Mondays through Fridays with the exception of the Salt Lake City office, which is open from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Those with questions may call their nearest Division of Wildlife Resources office or the DWR's Salt Lake City office at (801) 538-4700.

8:21:46 AM