Salt Lake Chamber Position Statement on Education Vouchers

Utah businesses are huge stakeholders in public and private education. We depend on a high quality workforce to provide goods and services, and we help pay for the education of the workforce through corporate income, sales and property taxes. To remain competitive in an increasingly competitive global economy, we must continue to invest in our human capital.

Public education in Utah faces a severe funding challenge as the grandchildren of the baby boomers enter kindergarten through 12 grades. Private school vouchers will increase, in a voluntary way (e.g. private school tuition), the total amount of funding for education in our state. We view vouchers as one of several needed and innovative steps to reduce the likelihood of future tax increases.

After careful consideration of the financial concerns raised by both sides of the education voucher debate, a majority of the Salt Lake Chamber Board of Governors believes a vote FOR Citizen’s State Referendum Number 1 (H.B. 148, Education Vouchers) is the right choice for Utah businesses. This endorsement is made with the caveat that a sizable minority of our Board strongly opposes Referendum Number 1 and has asked not to be included with this endorsement. As a large and diverse business association, we respect and value this minority opinion. Indeed, all members of our Board are firmly committed to a high quality education for Utah children.

As a complement to the pro-voucher position of the majority of our Board, we stand prepared to improve public education in Utah by supporting these education priorities:

1. Increased funding for public schools – Support legislative appropriations that will reduce class size, support full-day kindergarten, increase the portion of students who finish high school, expand after school programs, increase teacher salaries and provide additional books, supplies, and equipment.
   
2. Public school/business community partnership – Improve the guidance and motivation that students get in school through an innovative, sustainable partnership to bring business expertise and experience to schools.
   
3. Higher education access – Improve access to higher education through a scholarship program for Utah students who meet grade point and curriculum requirements.
   
4. Voucher eligibility – We support and encourage the legislature to amend Utah’s voucher law so that high income families are NOT eligible for educational scholarships. 

As Utah’s largest business association, we will use our extensive communication channels to encourage Utah voters to support Referendum 1 and enact further reforms to help fund education in Utah.