Senate president proposes 5.5% growth cap and $276 million property-tax cut in opening remarks

Senator Lisonbee, the Senate president, used the chamber’s opening remarks to outline a fiscal agenda calling for a limit on government growth and a major property-tax reduction.

"We limit government this year by a growth, not a reduction, but limiting growth of government to 5.5%," Lisonbee said, proposing a cap he characterized as a restraint on spending increases. He told members that a 5.5% cap would amount to "a tax reduction of some $90,000,000," and asked where the state should find those savings.

Lisonbee also proposed eliminating "the state portion of property tax on the minimum school levy," saying the move would reduce property taxes across Utah by about "$276,000,000." He framed that change as benefiting homeowners broadly — including young families buying first homes and retired residents on fixed incomes — and pressed colleagues to consider the fiscal tradeoffs.

The president did not present a finalized funding plan to replace the $276 million. He listed possible offsets under consideration, including raising the sales-tax rate, modifying the corporate income tax, and revisiting some tax incentives. "We have a variety of proposals that we would like to put forth, but they are not ironclad," he said, and asked for suggestions from lawmakers and civic leaders.

Lisonbee asked leadership to coordinate follow-up work. He directed Senator McAllister and assigned staff to review the proposal and seek input, saying he hoped Democrats and other stakeholders would help refine options rather than oppose the effort on partisan grounds.

Beyond the tax proposals, Lisonbee told the Senate leadership would recommend limiting bond authorizations to $50,000,000 this year and that the executive appropriations committee would consider that guidance. He also announced schedule items: a one-hour lunch, no regular caucus agenda, and a 1:00 p.m. meeting of the executive appropriations committee.

Procedure and next steps: the Senate approved several procedural motions during the morning, including resolving into the committee of the whole so the president could address members, allowing a remote or leave vote on SJR 87, and an order to "spread" the president's remarks across the legislative journal. The Senate adjourned until 10:00 a.m. Wednesday.

Lisonbee’s remarks were framed as a starting point for the session; he repeatedly sought input and emphasized that the proposals were not final. The next formal step for the bond recommendation and broader budget discussion is executive appropriations at 1:00 p.m., where lawmakers and staff are expected to consider the fiscal directions set out in the address.