Health

Reimagining James Madison Elementary

Ogden School District is a beautiful and vibrant community filled with dedicated leaders who aim to ensure it is a place where all its students can thrive. 

While the Ogden area faces notable challenges, it is also a community of resilience and opportunity. According to Utah's Annual Intergenerational Poverty Report, two of Ogden’s zip codes experience some of the highest rates of children in intergenerational poverty [1]. The district also serves a vibrant and diverse population, with 50% students of color, a 21.2% mobility rate, and a 22.5% English learner population [2].

These factors provide the Ogden School District with unique opportunities to innovate and create meaningful change. With the closure of James Madison Elementary, the district and its partners can reimagine the school's use not only to help meet the needs of its students but also to enrich their experiences. 

Through research, in-depth conversations, and strategic meetings, the Ogden School District, the Ogden School Foundation, and Voices for Utah Children have advanced plans to launch a community center for K-12 children and families in the Ogden School District. 

Our Four Key Priorities

Our goal is to create a community center that meets the unique needs of the Ogden community, strengthen the district's current partners, and provide families the opportunity to thrive.

To achieve this goal, we have established four key priority areas that our efforts will focus on addressing the community's needs. Each priority area will partner with relevant community partners to bring resources, information, and services into the building. Additionally, each priority area is developing proposals that showcase the current capacity, needs, assets, partners, and plans over the coming years as this initiative moves forward.

Who We Are

We are a diverse group of stakeholders coming together to inform the development of the community center and ensure that the local community's needs and assets are met and considered.

Partner with Us!

There is growing excitement within Ogden about ensuring the success of this initiative and providing adequate funding for the different programs and projects. Currently, we are looking for additional partners to support the building redevelopment, technological support, and official launch.

To discuss partnering with this initiative contact Moe Hickey at

Sources

[1] https://jobs.utah.gov/edo/intergenerational/igp24.pdf 

[2] https://www.ogdenschoolfoundation.org/who-we-are/at-a-glance

For Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients, access to health coverage through the federal marketplace has been out of reach since the program's implementation in 2012. A recent report by the National Immigration Law Center revealed that 20% of surveyed DACA recipients do not have any form of health insurance. 

However, thanks to new federal rules, starting November 1st, 2024, DACA recipients in Utah and across the nation will be eligible to enroll in private health insurance plans through the Affordable Care Act (ACA) Health Insurance Marketplace, such as HealthCare.gov.

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) estimates that roughly 100,000 previously uninsured DACA recipients could enroll in health coverage through Marketplace plans this fall.

What is the Marketplace? 

The Marketplace, also known as the Health Insurance Marketplace, the ACA Marketplace, or the “exchange” is a shopping and enrollment service for medical insurance, created after the passage of the Affordable Care Act in 2010. In most states, the federal government runs the marketplace for individuals and families, though some states have created their own version of the marketplace.

What is the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program?

The Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program allows temporary relief from deportation and work authorization for individuals brought to the United States as children, commonly referred to as ‘Dreamers.’ As of December 2023, there are over 7,000 active DACA recipients living in Utah, spanning across the Wasatch front, including 3,740 in Salt Lake County, 1,430 in Utah County, and 1,360 in Weber County.

I’m a DACA Recipient in Utah: What Does This Mean for Me?

While some DACA recipients may already have health coverage through their employer, many others do not. This includes entrepreneurs, self-employed individuals, stay-at-home caregivers, or those whose employers don’t offer health insurance.

Starting November 1st, 2024, you will be eligible to enroll in private health insurance plans through the health insurance marketplaces created by the Affordable Care Act (ACA), like HealthCare.gov. Depending on your income, you may qualify for subsidies that make buying and using marketplace coverage more affordable. You will be eligible for a “special enrollment period” in 2024 that will allow you to start using health insurance on December 1st, 2024 if you enroll by November 15th, 2024. If you enroll after that date, your coverage may not start until January 1st, 2025. We encourage you to apply as soon as possible. 

Learn how to apply and get coverage by checking out this helpful FAQ!

How Can I Sign Up for Coverage?

There are several different ways to sign up for coverage! For many, this is their first time navigating the health care world and the marketplace. You can directly visit HealthCare.gov to get started, or contact a community organization that assists with enrollment. 

• Take Care Utah
• Community Health Centers in Utah
• For a full list of organizations providing enrollment assistance, Click here.

When Parents are Covered, Children Thrive

Many DACA recipients in Utah are deeply connected to their communities, averaging 25 years in the United States. Approximately 35% of Utah DACA recipients are parents to 10,000 U.S. citizen children. Research consistently shows that children are more likely to access health insurance and healthcare services when their parents are insured, a phenomenon known as the “welcome mat” effect. When parents gain access to health coverage, their children also benefit. Parents who receive adequate healthcare are better equipped to care for, provide for, and support their children. Improved parental insurance coverage and health outcomes positively impact children in both the short and long term, enhancing family health and financial security.

Additionally, when children have access to health coverage, their use of preventive care increases, which can lead to better health outcomes as adults, including fewer hospitalizations and emergency room visits. By spreading awareness of this new rule, we can encourage uninsured DACA recipients to explore coverage options for themselves and, in the process, learn about existing programs such as Medicaid or CHIP for their children if they aren’t already covered.

Legal Challenges Ahead

DACA recipients know all too well the uncertainty that comes with ongoing legal battles, having faced numerous lawsuits and court decisions since 2017. Unfortunately, a coalition of 15 Republican-led states has filed another lawsuit, this time to block DACA recipients from accessing healthcare through the ACA Marketplace. Fortunately, The National Immigration Law Center has filed a motion to intervene in the federal lawsuit to defend DACA recipients' rights to access health coverage through the ACA.

We recognize and understand the exhaustion of short-term victories followed by complicated legal setbacks. Despite these legal challenges, we are moving forward with national partners to ensure eligible DACA recipients are informed and encouraged to apply for health coverage. 

Future Outlook

At Voices for Utah Children, we understand that having health coverage is a critical factor in laying the foundation and bridge toward better health outcomes. Access to health insurance not only reduces financial barriers to necessary medical services, but also ensures that children and families can receive preventive care, early diagnosis, and timely treatments. This access helps prevent illnesses from escalating into more severe health conditions, particularly for vulnerable populations.  

We also recognize that various barriers impact access to coverage. Sometimes, someone’s immigration status, or lack thereof, can make the difference between what type of care and coverage they are eligible for and have access to. 

The opportunity for DACA recipients to access healthcare through the ACA Marketplace is long overdue. Despite the ongoing legal battles and uncertainty, the ability to gain health coverage can have life-changing implications, especially for DACA recipients with families and children. This opportunity will empower thousands of individuals and families to secure better health and financial stability. 

Now more than ever, it’s crucial to spread awareness, encourage enrollment, and ensure that every eligible DACA recipient is equipped with the knowledge and resources to navigate this new opportunity. By taking advantage of this moment, DACA recipients can take control of their health and well-being, contributing to stronger, healthier communities across Utah. Together, we must push forward to secure these gains and continue advocating for more inclusive healthcare solutions.

• For the latest updates on DACA and ACA, follow us on Instagram: @utahchildren and @uiac_ut
• For more information, reach out to Thaiss Del Rio  

Much has changed since the 2019 State of Children's Health Coverage Report. Over the past five years, we have made significant strides at the local and federal health policy levels shaping access to healthcare for children in our state.

The journey has been up and down, from the pandemic's unprecedented challenges to Medicaid's unwinding. Yet, we've remained inspired by the work that can be done when community members, state leaders, and organizations come together to advocate for and implement policies that prioritize children's health and well-being.

Our new publication provides a detailed overview of these developments and highlights our organization's efforts to ensure all children in Utah have access to healthcare coverage and care so they can grow, thrive, and reach their full potential.

Our publication covers: 

• Utah Children's Access to Healthcare Coverage: We examine current challenges and barriers, along with the factors influencing access to care.
• Efforts to Expand Coverage: We share initiatives and community events we have co-hosted to increase Medicaid and CHIP enrollment.
• Policy Landscape: We explore changes in Utah's healthcare policies from 2019-2014 and the impacts of these policies on Utah children and families.

We are thankful to our partners, fellow advocates, and community, who have all played a crucial role in this journey and remain committed to making Utah a state that is good for ALL kids.

DOWNLOAD A COPY

The Journey Ahead

Over the next year and beyond, we remain committed to achieving health coverage for all Utah kids. Despite ongoing attacks on the Medicaid program, we remain steadfast in safeguarding its integrity and accessibility for all Utahns. Our goals include expanding access to coverage through strategic investment, enhancement, and simplification of the Medicaid and CHIP programs.

• Invest: Invest in the community-based organizations that are best positioned to assist with Medicaid and CHIP enrollment and renewals by easing the complicated processes for eligible community members. The investment must include funding for targeted outreach and education in geographic areas with high rates of uninsured children. 
• Enhance: Enhance language access by establishing translation and interpretation standards for the Departments of Health and Human Services and the Department of Workforce Services, focused on Utah's top ten most common non-English languages.
• Simplify: Reduce burdens and barriers to family application and renewal procedures by implementing substantive changes to the state’s system for approving new applications and renewals, such as adopting the ex-parte renewal process utilized during the Medicaid “unwinding” for ongoing use.

Since 2019, the journey has been both challenging and rewarding. We celebrate our achievements and remain committed to creating a bold path forward for children's health coverage in Utah. We are excited about the opportunities that the next five years will bring and invite you to join the journey by committing to ensuring all children have access to coverage.

Join our coalition today!

Years of inadequate public investment have left Utah families struggling with many unmet needs. Our schools require better funding to hire more teachers, counselors, and nurses. We need affordable child care for both our cities and rural areas, along with affordable housing, cleaner air, and much more.

So why are our state leaders so determined to eliminate the primary source of funding for our public education system and other community services that help kids and their families?

Between 2018 to 2024, the state legislature cut the state income tax four times, from 5% to 4.55%. Our leaders act like they are doing us all a favor, reducing our income taxes by a few dozen dollars each year - but these seemingly small cuts have resulted in an annual revenue loss of over $800M. 

Now, Utah’s legislative leaders are clear about their intentions to eliminate the income tax entirely.

However extreme and unrealistic these plans might seem, don’t doubt that they will try to do it. This year’s Interim Study Items include studying alternatives to the income tax. 

The Consequences

Eliminating the income tax in Utah would further reduce funding for essential services, leading to devastating cuts affecting education, healthcare, and social services. This could mean decreased compensation for educators, fewer family resources, and longer wait times for assistance. The majority of Utahns do not want lower taxes if it means lower-quality services. Income tax cuts don’t make states more prosperous or competitive, and they don’t help families make ends meet.

Proponents of eliminating the income tax have yet to propose any viable plan to replace the enormous revenue loss that will follow. Only one state, Alaska, has ever eliminated its income tax, and it did so only after striking oil.

An Unfair Tax System

A fair tax system relies on a balanced approach, combining property tax, sales tax, and income tax to ensure stability, fairness, and responsiveness. The income tax is meant to represent the leg of fairness, ensuring that wealthy households pay their fair share. 

Eliminating the income tax does not ensure that large corporations and the wealthiest residents pay their fair share in taxes. In fact, the benefits of income tax cuts overwhelmingly benefit the wealthy. Eliminating the income tax would provide a benefit of $121,514 to the top 1% of Utahns, but only provide $121 to the lowest-income 20%. 

In recent years, wealthy corporations have enjoyed record profits, but aren’t paying their fair share in taxes. Further tax cuts mean they will pay even less. If the wealthy and corporations paid their fair share, we could expand opportunities to everyone, by investing in quality education, cleaner air, child care, and healthcare.

Utah's Values

Utahns believe in taking care of each other no matter what. But the recent years of revenue elimination have prioritized the wealthy and corporations instead. Now, over 60% of Utahns feel the state is on the wrong track, and that quality of life is worse than it was five years ago. Continuing to starve the state budget for critical public services, such as public education and highway safety, will not reverse that sentiment. 

State leaders should focus on strengthening the vital services that make sure working people, small businesses, and families have the tools to build a good life. It's time to prioritize the well-being of all Utahns over short-sighted tax cuts for the wealthy.

Please join us on Saturday, October 12th for a fun, family-friendly Medicaid engagement event with prizes, community resources, and lunch! Your state Medicaid Director wants to hear from you about what’s working and what needs to improve with social services in Utah.

Attendees will be connected with community resources and get help with Medicaid, CHIP, SNAP, and other benefits from the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and the Department of Workforce Services (DWS).

RSVP TODAY!

¡Confirma tu asistencia hoy!

What to Bring

• What to Bring (English)
• Esto es lo que debes traer (Español)
• Díí kwe’é dabiká’ígíí dííjih (Navajo)

Details

• Saturday, October 12th from 10:00am-1:00pm
• Blanding Arts & Events Center | 715 West 200 South, Blanding, Utah 84511
• Lunch will be provided
• For any additional questions, email Thaiss Del Rio at

Flyers

• English
• Español

The 2024 Utah Legislative Session ended at midnight on Friday, March 1. For the Voices for Utah Children team, this session included supporting a lot of community engagement, working hard to protect the programs that protect Utah kids, and trying not to get distracted by outlandish efforts to "solve" problems that don't actually exist in Utah.

As usual, there were many, many missed opportunities for state leaders to improve the lives of Utah kids. Nonetheless, we managed to pull off some great victories - as always, in partnership with many supportive community members, our great partner organizations and supportive public servants.

We hosted six different public engagement events at the Capitol over seven weeks. Working closely with our community partners, we stopped some truly terrible legislation that literally threatened the lives of Utah kids who rely on Medicaid and CHIP. Thanks to many supportive child care professionals and working parents, we kept Utah's child care crisis in the media spotlight throughout the session. 

For a deeper dive into our efforts in various policy areas, as well as a recap of what happened to the many different bills we were tracking, check out the virtual booklet below! 

Download a Copy

The original version of this legislative recap misidentified the city of residence of a member of the Utah State Legislature. This has been corrected. For more information, please contact .

Governor Cox unveiled his budget last week, and the general direction of the budget is positive. Voices for Utah Children is interested in some specific components of the budget that directly impact Utah children and their families:

Public Education

$854 million increase, including a 5% jump in per-pupil funding and $55 million for rural schools

This is a much-needed investment in public education. We support the focus on rural schools and are anxious to see the details as they emerge. Public education consistently polls as a top priority for Utahns of all political parties and backgrounds.

Support for Utah Families

 $4.7 million to expand Utah’s child tax credit and $5 million for accessible child care

We appreciate the fact that the Governor has begun to address the urgent needs of Utah families with young children. However, both allocations fall far short of the amount required to truly support and elevate these young families’ current needs. A truly impactful child tax credit would require an investment of at least $130 million, and the benefits in reducing child poverty in Utah would be substantial. Our recent report on child care in Utah clearly illustrates the need for bold action to support families in the workforce, who are struggling with the cost and unavailability of child care. The Governor’s $5M project will help very few Utah families and does not address the true need.

Housing

$128 million for homeless shelters and $30 million for deeply affordable housing

We support the Governor in his effort to better support the homeless residents of our state. We encourage a greater focus on expanding support for homeless children specifically. Early care and education opportunities for young children as well as more supportive programs for their parents and caregivers are critical to helping families find stable housing and better future opportunities. Investing in deeply affordable housing will help many Utah families.

Behavioral/Mental Health 

$8 million for behavioral and mental health

This is not enough to address the current mental health needs of Utahns – in particular, those of our children and the folks tasked with raising them. We need more mental health professionals and greater access to services. We know this is a major concern for the Governor and we encourage increased strategic investment in this area.

It is also important to acknowledge and applaud some items the Governor wisely left out of his proposed budget:

No Proposed Tax Cuts 

Utahns want to see more invested in our children while they are young, to prevent greater challenges later in life. It is our children who suffer most, when politicians toss our tax dollars away on polices that mostly benefit the wealthiest 1% of Utah households.

No Proposed Funding for Vouchers

Public funds should not be redirected to private entities. Utah needs an annual audit of the current program, to assess who is benefitting from school vouchers. In other states, the results are not good – vouchers are looking more and more like a tax break for wealthy families.

Bold Investments Needed for Utah's Children

Governor Cox's budget focuses on increasing funding for education, families, and affordable housing.

These are all areas where we believe bold investment is needed. We support the Governor in addressing these issues, but cannot overlook how this budget falls short in the face of the ongoing struggles faced by Utah families with children.  

We encourage our Legislature to use the Governor’s budget as a roadmap and increase the allocations to the amount needed.

At Voices for Utah Children, we always start with this guiding question: "Is it good for all kids?" That remains our north star at the outset of the 2024 legislative session, and is reflected in our top legislative priorities.

So, what’s good for all kids in 2024?

A Healthy Start!

A healthy start in life ensures a child's immediate well-being while laying a foundation for future success. We are steadfast in our commitment to championing policies that prioritize every child's physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Central to this commitment is our focus on improving Utah’s popular Medicaid and CHIP programs, which are pivotal in the lives of many Utah children and families. 

This legislative session, a healthy start for kids looks like:

• Empowering Expectant Mothers: We support a proposal from Rep. Ray Ward (R-Bountiful) to increase access to health coverage for low-income and immigrant mothers-to-be.
• Increasing Access to Health Care: We support bills that aim to improve access to the vital healthcare services children and parents need, especially for those on Medicaid and CHIP.
• Protecting Health Coverage: We oppose any effort to defund, and exclude deserving children from, the Medicaid and CHIP programs that help thousands of Utah kids every year. 

Early Learning and Care Opportunities!

The formative years of a child's life lay the foundation for their future, shaping their cognitive abilities, socio-emotional skills, and passion for learning. We will support efforts to increase access to home visiting programs and paid family leave, but ensuring consistent, quality, and affordable child care is our top priority.

This legislative session, early learning and care opportunities for kids looks like:

• Bolstering Access to Quality Child Care: We support the efforts of both Rep. Andrew Stoddard (D-Sandy) and Rep. Ashlee Matthews (D-Kearns) to extend the successful Office of Child Care stabilization grant program that has supported licensed child care programs statewide.
• Investing in High-Quality Preschool: We support an anticipated legislative proposal to streamline Utah’s existing high-quality school-readiness program and to make it available to more preschoolers statewide. 
• Recruiting and Retaining Child Care Professionals: We support Rep. Matthews’ proposal to expand access to the Child Care Assistance Program for anyone working in the child care sector.
• Building New Child Care Businesses: We also support Rep. Matthews’ proposal to continue funding for work to develop and support new child care programs in rural, urban, and suburban areas.

To view a more comprehensive list of our 2024 early care and learning legislative priorities, click here. 

Economic Stability for Families with Children!

Economic stability forms the bedrock of thriving families and vibrant communities. To ensure that young families in Utah have the support they need to afford basic necessities, we will advocate for increasing families’ access to Utah's earned income and child tax credits.

This legislative session, economic stability for families looks like: 

• A Little Extra Help in the Early Years: We support HB 153, Rep. Susan Pulsipher’s (R-South Jordan) bill to expand Utah’s new Child Tax Credit, (currently only for children ages 1 to 3), to apply to children between 1 and 5 years of age. We also strongly recommend helping even more Utah families with young children by making the tax credit available for families with any child between birth and 5, and expanding it to include the thousands of lower- and moderate-income families who are currently excluded.
• Credit for Working Families with Kids: We support HB 149, Rep. Marsha Judkins’ (R-Provo) bill to expand Utah’s Earned Income Tax Credit so that more lower- and middle-income families with children can benefit. 

Justice for Youth!

We want to ensure that all youth, including those who come into contact with the juvenile justice system, have access to interventions and supports that work for them and for their families. We are dedicated to advancing policies and recommendations that contribute to a more fair and equitable juvenile justice system for all Utah youth.

This legislative session, justice for youth looks like:

• Prioritizing School Safety: We are monitoring bills from Rep. Wilcox (R-Ogden) and the School Safety Task Force, including: HB 14, “School Threat Penalty Amendments” and HB 84, “School Safety Amendments.” We remain hopeful that these efforts will support a secure learning environment for all students, without contributing further to the School-to-Prison Pipeline. 

Be an Advocate!

As we chart the path forward, one thing remains abundantly clear: the well-being, growth, and future of Utah's children rely on the decisions we make today. Each legislative session presents an opportunity—a chance to reaffirm our commitment, reevaluate our priorities, and reimagine a brighter, more inclusive future for all. 

Together we can continue to make Utah a place where every child's potential is realized, their dreams are nurtured, and their voices are heard.

Below are some ways you can get involved this session. 

Stay Informed with our Bill Tracker

Stay informed about important legislation we are watching and reach out to your local representatives to let them know how you feel about legislation that is important to you. We make it easy for you to subscribe and watch bills that you are most concerned about. 

VIEW TRACKER

Join us for Legislative Session Days on the Hill

Join us at the Capitol, where we offer attendees the opportunity to engage in the legislative process on a specific issue area (health and/or child care). You'll have the chance to attend bill hearings, lobby your legislators, connect with fellow community advocates, and watch House and Senate floor debates. Click the button below for the dates/times of our meetings and to RSVP.

RSVP TODAY

Celebrate Utah's Immigrant Community 

In collaboration with our partners at UT With All Immigrants, the Center for Economic Opportunity and Belonging, and I Stand with Immigrants, we are organizing Immigrant Day on the Hill. Join us to discover ways to engage in Utah's civic life. Enjoy food, explore resource tables, participate in interactive activities, and entertainment. Everyone is invited to attend this free event!

Event Details: February 13, 2024, 3:30pm-5:30pm at the Capitol Rotunda, 350 State St, Salt Lake City, UT 84103

RSVP TODAY

Wednesday, October 4, 2023

Voices for Utah Children is proud to have co-hosted the momentous unveiling of the new State CHIP Program during our morning press conference. We are grateful to have worked with Senator Luz Escamilla (D-Salt Lake City) and Representative Jim Dunnigan (R-Taylorsville) to support the passage of SB217: ChIldren’s Health Coverage Amendments that led to the creation of this program.

Voices for Utah Children's goal for every child in Utah to have health insurance and access to high-quality health care.

In our state, an estimated 7.9% of children in Utah do not have health insurance, with greater disparities amongst rural children and Latino children, placing Utah as 37th in the nation for insured children.

The State CHIP program will play a crucial role in bridging this gap by providing comprehensive healthcare coverage, so that children can access the medical care they need when they need to lead a healthier and more secure life. 

This State CHIP Program is one piece of that puzzle.

The State CHIP program provides newly eligible children with comprehensive healthcare coverage, including well-child exams, immunizations, doctor visits, prescriptions, mental health services, and more, supporting more kids to have the opportunity to grow and thrive because of the access to coverage.

We are excited to continue working with Senator Escamilla, Rep. Jim Dunnnigan, and our 100% Kids Coverage Coalition, community and faith leaders, healthcare systems and providers, and more to outreach to all of our Utah families throughout the state so children get the health coverage and care they need. We know that this program will make a positive impact on many Utah families statewide and will get us closer to the goal of having all Utah kids covered.

Let’s get all Utah kiddos covered!

For more information about State CHIP for non-US citizens starting January 1, 2024 click here.

For more information about the new State CHIP program visit: https://chip.health.utah.gov/.

For more information about our 100% Kids Coverage Coalition visit: https://www.100percentkids.health/.

The care for the children in our state and communities can be measured by our public investment in our smallest humans. From the fiscal year 2008 to 2022, Voices for Utah Children divided all state programs concerning children into seven categories, without regard to their location within the structure of state government to quantify the level of public funding and identify trends. The seven categories are:

1. K-12 Education
2. Health
3. Food & Nutrition
4. Early Childhood Education
5. Child Welfare
6. Juvenile Justice
7. Income Support

An appendix of our tables, sources, methodology and description of programs can be found here. 

How Much We Spend

The interactive circle chart below compares how much we spend by category, program, and source of funding, just use the filter and click the category to zoom in.

• K-12 Education makes up 92% of the state-funded portion of the Children’s Budget, while the federal-funded portion is more diversified across categories.

Spending Trends

We compare the budget to FY2008 because that was a peak year in the economic cycle before The Great Recession and all figures have been adjusted for inflation, so they are comparable across time.

• From FY2008 to FY2022, total public investment in children increased by 43%, growing much faster than Utah’s public-school enrollment (district & charter schools) by 26%, or the child population ages 0-17 by 13% from 2008-2021.

The federal share of the Children's Budget has fluctuated between 18-26% but had its biggest increase at the beginning of the Great Recession and the Covid-19 Pandemic. This is also when state funding for the Children's Budget has declined, for example real state & local K-12 education funding fell by $206 million since FY2020, the largest two-year decline since the Great Recession in 2008-2010. Several years after the Great Recession the federal share of the Children’s Budget decreased and the state share started to increase again, something that will hopefully happen again as pandemic relief funding rolls back. 

Funding Sources: Federal vs. State

When the categories are disaggregated by source of funding, Food & Nutrition, Income Support, Health, and Early Childhood Education programs are mainly funded by federal sources, and Child Welfare, K-12 Education, and Juvenile Justice programs are funded mainly by state sources. And since Amendment G passed and allowed the income tax to be used to fund programs for children (in addition to K-12 and some Early Childhood Education & Nutrition Programs), the Child Welfare, Juvenile Justice, and Health categories are funded primarily by the income tax. In FY2022, 98% of Juvenile Justice, 100% of Child Welfare, and 88% of Health categories of the state funded Children's Budget were funded by the income tax totaling to $475 M.

When examining the state-funded portion of the budget since FY2008 each category has a different story. 

• Juvenile Justice programs declined the most in dollar amount, $32.9 M or 28% mainly due to a reduction in correctional facility and rural programs and it also had an increase in early intervention services which advocates consider to be a goal of juvenile justice reform.
• Child Welfare programs declined by 16% or $21.8 M, mainly from the Service Delivery program which funds caseworkers to deliver child welfare, youth, and domestic violence services. 
• Income Support declined 49% or $2.1 M and appears to be more cyclical, rising and falling with the Great Recession. Interestingly, the TANF grant is a mix of state and federal funds, and only a small amount goes to Income Support or cash assistance.[i]  
• Food & Nutrition increased by 56% or $19.7 M due to an increase in liquor & wine tax revenues which supports the school lunch program.
• Early Childhood Education had the largest percentage increase of 109% or $42.0 M mainly from the Upstart program but increasing in every program except Child Care Assistance.
• Health has increased by 80% or $139.3 M from the Medicaid and CHIP program but also had a 58% or $12.4 M decrease in Maternal & Child Health. 
• The category that has increased the most in dollar amount is K-12 Education.

K-12 Education Funding

State and local sourced funding for K-12 education increased by $1.6 billion in constant 2022 dollars from FY2008 to FY2022, but per-pupil spending only increased from $10,212 to $10,537 per student. This means that even though more is being spent in total dollars, it barely covers the increase in students during the same time.

In 1948, 100% of the income tax was allocated to public education, an increase from 75% when it was originally imposed in 1931. It was expanded in 1996 to include higher education, in 2021 to include non-education services for children and people with a disability, and may be expanded again depending on a 2024 ballot measure placed by the Utah Legislature.  

The income tax rate has been reduced in 1996, 2006, 2008, 2018, 2022, and 2023.  The graphs below illustrate a timeline of these changes and Utah’s total elementary and secondary public schools (district & charter) funding effort (including capital) as a percentage of personal income and rank compared to other states.

Unfortunately, the result is a downward trajectory and likely explains our second to last place in per-pupil funding in the country.[ii]

Utah's Education Funding Effort as a Percent of Personal Income

According to the fiscal notes, the last two bills that reduced the Income Tax rate in 2022 and 2023 estimated a loss of $1.3 billion in the Income Tax Fund from FY2022-2025 with more ongoing.[iii]

State & Local Funded Portion of K-12 Education

Another result of these changes has been shifts in the funding source for K-12 education. From the fiscal year 2008 to 2022, the federal-funded portion increased by 74% and the state-funded portion declined by 3%.

Meanwhile, Local sources have increased by 12%, possibly to meet the needs of their communities while state-funded sources decline and putting greater pressure on sources like the property tax which is more regressive than the income tax because it takes a greater toll on low-and middle-income families.

Rank of Utah's Education Funding Effort Compared to Other States

We Need to Prioritize Children in the Budget

While Utah doesn’t have the most kids than any other state, we do have the highest share of kids in our population. And we as a community are entrusted to make sure they are cared for, safe, and have the tools they need to achieve their aspirations. As the Utah Legislature drafts, holds hearings on, debates, and passes the Utah state budget we hope they prioritize our most vulnerable and precious group, Utah’s children.

CLICK TO DOWNLOAD

[i] https://www.cbpp.org/sites/default/files/atoms/files/tanf_spending_ut.pdf 

[ii] https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/school-finances.html 

[iii] https://le.utah.gov/~2022/bills/static/SB0059.html, https://le.utah.gov/~2023/bills/static/HB0054.html These fiscal notes show the loss from the income tax fund but they are not disaggregated by changes from the income tax rate or tax credit portion of the bills.