Utah Governor Gary Herbert released his proposed $16 billion budget for the state today. The plan urges extra investment in law enforcement and education.
It includes no tax increases, but projects about $287 million in new annual revenue. The Salt Lake Tribune reportsthat Herbert unveiled his proposals at a Utah Highway Patrol office in Murray, to underscore a need for what he says is long overdue spending for public safety.
That includes $7.6 million more to improve salaries for correctional officers at state prisons, and $1.5 million more in Highway Patrol trooper pay. He also called for an extra $750,000 for crime labs and evidence management to address a big backlog in processing rape kits.