Utah Tax Commission warns funding sweeps could hinder cybersecurity and legal defenses

Commissioners from the Utah State Tax Commission told the General Government Appropriations Subcommittee on Feb. 7 that proposed budget reductions would impair the agency’s cybersecurity readiness and its ability to hire expert witnesses in tax litigation.

Commissioner John Valentine, chairman of the Utah State Tax Commission, opened by warning, “Houston, we have a problem,” and asked committee members to look at the commission’s packet. Valentine said a proposed $1,500,000 reduction to the Tax Commission general fund would remove carryforward funds the commission relies on to protect its systems and to satisfy existing contractual obligations. “We have spent $253,000 of that money already. We have contractually obligated another $530,000 of that money to protect the system,” Valentine said, adding that the funds pay an outside vendor, Fast Enterprises, and that taking the funds mid‑budget cycle…