Governor Walker urges fiscal discipline, $30 million K'3 reading push and a 2% pay increase in State of the State

Governor O'lene Walker delivered the State of the State to a joint convention of the Utah Legislature, urging fiscal restraint to protect the state's bond rating, modest pay increases to retain state and education employees and targeted investments in early education.

"To preserve that rating, we must limit our bonding, add to our reserves, and bring balance to our budget," Walker said, citing a June bond sale of $407,000,000 at 2.83 percent and comparing it to a higher rate in California to argue the long-term savings of prudent fiscal policy.

Walker identified three budget priorities: maintain the state's bond rating, retain state and education staff and maintain quality education. She proposed a modest 2% salary increase for state employees after two years without raises and asked the Legislature for $30,000,000 in new funding focused on kindergarten through third grade to ensure children learn to read at grade level. "Through third grade, children learn to read. After that, they read to learn," she said.

On education, Walker said Utah spends far less per pupil than the national average…