Utah Foundation

UTAH FOUNDATION'S MISSION IS TO PRODUCE OBJECTIVE, THOROUGH AND WELL- REASONED RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS THAT PROMOTES THE EFFECTIVE USE OF PUBLIC RESOURCES, A THRIVING ECONOMY, A WELL-PREPARED WORKFORCE AND A HIGH QUALITY OF LIFE FOR UTAHNS. UTAH FOUNDATION SEEKS TO HELP DECISION-MAKERS AND CITIZENS UNDERSTAND AND ADDRESS COMPLEX ISSUES. UTAH FOUNDATION ALSO OFFERS CONSTRUCTIVE GUIDANCE TO IMPROVE GOVERNMENTAL POLICIES, PROGRAMS AND STRUCTURES. UTAH FOUNDATION IS AN INDEPENDENT, NONPARTISAN, NONPROFIT RESEARCH ORGANIZATION.

SEE SCHEDULE O LOOKING BACK OVER 2018, UTAH FOUNDATION HAD ONE OF THE MOST PRODUCTIVE YEARS IN THE ORGANIZATION'S SEVEN-DECADE HISTORY. WE ISSUED 12 PUBLIC RELEASES: 11 MAJOR REPORTS AND ONE BRIEF. WE PUBLISHED OP-EDS ONCE PER MONTH AND BEGAN MAKING OUR PODCASTS A MONTHLY AFFAIR. THE NEWS MEDIA COVERED OUR WORK MORE THAN 100 TIMES. AND WE WON TWO NATIONAL AWARDS FOR OUR RESEARCH. MEANWHILE, THANKS TO THE GENEROSITY OF OUR MANY SUPPORTERS, WE ENDED THE YEAR ON A STRONG FINANCIAL FOOTING. WE STAGED THREE BREAKFAST BRIEFINGS, AND OUR ANNUAL LUNCHEON WAS PRESENTED TO A SELL-OUT CROWD. FINALLY, TO CHART A COURSE FOR THE FUTURE, TRUSTEES AND STAFF COLLABORATED TO CREATE THE UTAH FOUNDATION 2025 STRATEGIC PLAN. THE HEALTH COST SERIES: A NATIONAL AWARD WINNER IN OUR QUADRENNIAL UTAH PRIORITIES SURVEY, WE LEARNED THAT THE NO. 1 CONCERN OF UTAHNS WAS HEALTH CARE; CITIZENS WERE PARTICULARLY CONCERNED ABOUT COSTS. IN RESPONSE, IN 2018 WE COMPLETED THE THREE-PART UTAH HEALTH COST SERIES. THE SERIES WAS SUPPORTED BY AN ONLINE VIDEO EXPLAINING THE FINDINGS; BLOG POSTS, BOTH ON OUR WEBSITE AND ON THE GARDNER POLICY INSTITUTE WEBSITE; OUTREACH TO POLICYMAKERS; A PODCAST; INTERVIEWS WITH BOTH BROADCAST AND PRINT MEDIA; AND OP-ED ARTICLES PUBLISHED IN THE SALT LAKE TRIBUNE AND DESERET NEWS. RESEARCH ANALYST SAM BRUCKER WAS THE PRINCIPAL AUTHOR OF THE SERIES, WHICH WAS SUPPORTED IN PART WITH A GRANT FROM THE GEORGE S. AND DOLORES DOR ECCLES FOUNDATION. AT ITS ANNUAL CONFERENCE HELD IN DETROIT DURING THE SUMMER, THE NATIONAL GOVERNMENTAL RESEARCH ASSOCIATION RECOGNIZED THE SERIES WITH ITS 2018 MOST DISTINGUISHED RESEARCH AWARD. ANOTHER NATIONAL AWARD-WINNER: THE TAX POLICY SERIES IN 2018, WE PRESENTED A THREE-PART UTAH TAX POLICY SERIES. THE SERIES WAS SUPPORTED BY A BRIEF ON THE INCOME TAX DURING THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION; AN INCOME TAX CALCULATOR TOOL SHOWING CITIZENS HOW THE CHANGES IN THE INCOME TAX AFFECT THEM; AN ONLINE VIDEO EXPLAINING OUR FINDINGS; OUTREACH TO POLICYMAKERS; A PODCAST; INTERVIEWS WITH BOTH BROADCAST AND PRINT MEDIA; AND THREE OP-ED ARTICLES IN THE SALT LAKE TRIBUNE AND DESERET NEWS. THE INCOME TAX REPORT IN PARTICULAR STIRRED DISCUSSION BY REVEALING THAT THE CHANGES WOULD QUIETLY RESULT IN STATE TAX DECREASES FOR WEALTHIER HOUSEHOLDS - BUT INCREASES FOR LARGE, MIDDLE-CLASS FAMILIES. THIS LED TO PUBLIC OUTCRY, CHATTER ON TALK RADIO, AN EDITORIAL IN THE SALT LAKE TRIBUNE - AND, ULTIMATELY, AMENDMENTS FROM THE LEGISLATURE TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE. THE SALES TAX REPORT, MEANWHILE, HAS BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN RECENT PUBLIC DISCUSSIONS OVER WHETHER TO EXPAND THE BASE; IN THE COMING MONTHS, THE LEGISLATURE IS EXPECTED TO CONSIDER MAJOR REFORMS ON THAT FRONT. RESEARCH ANALYST CHRISTOPHER COLLARD WAS THE PRINCIPAL AUTHOR OF THE SERIES. THE TAX POLICY SERIES ALSO WON A NATIONAL AWARD THIS SUMMER, FOR MOST EFFECTIVE EDUCATION. IN FACT, UTAH FOUNDATION WON NATIONAL AWARDS IN TWO OUT OF THE GOVERNMENTAL RESEARCH ASSOCIATION'S THREE CATEGORIES - THE ONLY TWO CATEGORIES IN WHICH UTAH FOUNDATION WAS ELIGIBLE TO MAKE ENTRIES. LAUNCHING THE 2018-19 EDUCATION SPENDING SERIES IN 2018 WE LAUNCHED OUR ONGOING K-12 EDUCATION SPENDING SERIES, WITH TWO REPORTS NOW OUT. THE SERIES SO FAR HAS BEEN SUPPORTED BY A PRESENTATION TO THE SALT LAKE CHAMBER; OUTREACH TO POLICYMAKERS; A PODCAST; INTERVIEWS WITH BOTH BROADCAST AND PRINT MEDIA; AND AN OP-ED ARTICLE IN THE SALT LAKE TRIBUNE. THE STATE PLANS TO UPGRADE ITS COST TRANSPARENCY IN RESPONSE TO SIMPLE ARITHMETIC? (FEBRUARY), THE FIRST REPORT. THE SECOND REPORT, A LEVEL PLAYING FIELD? (AUGUST) ADDRESSED FUNDING FOR SPECIAL NEEDS STUDENTS, A PRIORITY FUNDING AREA IN THE GOVERNOR'S 2019 BUDGET PROPOSAL. THANKS TO THE LAWRENCE T. & JANET T. DEE FOUNDATION AND THE BRENT AND BONNIE JEAN BEESLEY FOUNDATION FOR PROVIDING GRANTS TO HELP FUND THE TWO REPORTS. THE SERIES WILL YIELD TWO MORE REPORTS IN 2019. THE QUALITY OF LIFE SURVEY: BIGGER AND BETTER EVERY FEW YEARS, WE CONDUCT OUR QUALITY OF LIFE SURVEY AND ISSUE A REPORT. THIS TIME, WE EXPANDED THE RANGE OF QUESTIONS AND ISSUED TWO REPORTS, WITH THE SECOND REPORT FOCUSED ON HOUSING AFFORDABILITY CONCERNS. THE SERIES WAS SUPPORTED BY A PODCAST, INTERVIEWS WITH BOTH BROADCAST AND PRINT MEDIA, AND OP-ED ARTICLES IN BOTH THE SALT LAKE TRIBUNE AND DESERET NEWS. THANKS TO INTERMOUNTAIN HEALTHCARE FOR ASSISTING AND LIGHTHOUSE RESEARCH FOR CO- SPONSORING. THANKS ALSO TO WASATCH FRONT REGIONAL COUNCIL AND WEBER, DAVIS AND SALT LAKE COUNTIES FOR SUPPORTING OVERSAMPLING SURVEY WORK AND CUSTOMIZED LOCAL REPORTS. MENTAL HEALTH: AN EMERGING AREA OF EXPLORATION AN EMERGING LINE OF RESEARCH FOR UTAH FOUNDATION PERTAINS TO MENTAL HEALTH. IN OCTOBER, WE RELEASED OUR REPORT ON SUICIDE IN UTAH AND THE MOUNTAIN STATES. THAT REPORT WAS SUPPORTED BY A PRESENTATION AT A SUICIDE PREVENTION CONFERENCE AT UVU; OUTREACH TO POLICYMAKERS; A PODCAST; AND INTERVIEWS WITH BOTH BROADCAST AND PRINT MEDIA. THANKS TO THE SORENSON LEGACY FOUNDATION AND THE MCCARTHEY FAMILY FOUNDATION FOR FUNDING THE STUDY. A SECOND REPORT, RETHINKING REHABILITATION (DECEMBER), FOCUSED ON DRUG REHABILITATION IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. THE REPORT HAS RECEIVED SIGNIFICANT MEDIA ATTENTION, INCLUDING A DESERET NEWS EDITORIAL ADDRESSING ITS FINDINGS. THANKS TO THE SEMNANI FAMILY FOUNDATION FOR MAJOR GRANT SUPPORT. CONSULTING WORK AS PART OF ITS PORTFOLIO, UTAH FOUNDATION CONDUCTS CONSULTING WORK AND PROJECTS COMMISSIONED BY PUBLIC AND PRIVATE ENTITIES. THE WORK COMPLETED IN 2018 INDICATES THE VARIETY OF CONTRACT PROJECTS WE MIGHT UNDERTAKE IN A GIVEN YEAR. THEY INCLUDED: AN ECONOMIC IMPACT STUDY ON THE AGGREGATES INDUSTRY; A COMMUNITY ASSESSMENT FOR A REGIONAL UNITED WAY OFFICE; AND A SURVEY OF LOCAL GOVERNMENTS FOR THE UTAH LEAGUE OF CITIES AND TOWNS. EXPANDING OUR REACH, PLANNING FOR GROWTH STARTING LAST YEAR, WE BEGAN MAKING OUR "UTAH THRIVES" PODCAST A MORE REGULAR AFFAIR, AND DAN BAMMES IS NOW PRODUCING THEM ON A MONTHLY BASIS. SOME OF THEM ARE NOW TAKING ON A LONGER FORM THAN IN THE PAST. WE ALSO WROTE OP-ED COMMENTARIES HIGHLIGHTING OUR WORK ON A MONTHLY BASIS, PRIMARILY FOR THE DESERET NEWS AND THE SALT LAKE TRIBUNE. IN ADDITION, THIS YEAR WE BEGAN PRODUCING ONLINE VIDEOS SUMMARIZING OUR WORK. WE PRODUCED TWO THIS YEAR - ON HEALTH CARE AND TAXES. WE ALSO CREATED AN ONLINE TOOL TO HELP TAXPAYERS SEE THE EFFECTS OF 2018 REFORMS. FINALLY, WE COMPLETED OUR 2025 STRATEGIC PLAN, WHICH SET GOALS, STRATEGIES AND ACTIONS IN FIVE PRIORITY AREAS: ENSURING FINANCIAL STABILITY, EXPANDING OUTREACH TO POLICYMAKERS, CLARIFYING OUR IDENTITY, BUILDING OUR NAME RECOGNITION AND INCREASING OUR FOCUS ON LOCAL ISSUES. WE HAVE ALREADY BEGUN MAKING GOOD PROGRESS ON ALL OF THOSE FRONTS. OF COURSE, WE DEPEND ON OUR SUPPORTERS TO MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE, AND IN 2018 THEY STEPPED FORWARD IN A BIG WAY: UTAH FOUNDATION SAW AN INCREASE IN REVENUE OF ABOUT 13% OVER 2017. TOP 10 UTAH FOUNDATION FINDINGS OF 2018 1. DESPITE THE PERCEPTIONS OF MANY UTAHNS THAT LARGE PORTIONS OF EDUCATION SPENDING GO TOWARD ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS, ONLY 7% IS SPENT ON ADMINISTRATION - THE 13TH LOWEST PERCENTAGE IN THE NATION AND THE SECOND-LOWEST AMOUNT PER PUPIL. (TIE.) 1. DURING THE PAST 45 YEARS, UTAH HAS SEEN THE NATION'S SECOND BIGGEST DECLINE IN TAXABLE SALES AS A PROPORTION OF CONSUMER EXPENDITURES. (TIE.) 3.FOUR OF THE TOP-RANKED UTAH COUNTIES FOR SUICIDE ARE ALSO AMONG THE TOP FIVE FOR OPIOID PRESCRIPTIONS. 4.DESPITE IMPROVEMENTS IN THE ECONOMY, UTAHNS' PERCEPTIONS OF THEIR COMMUNITY QUALITY OF LIFE HAS DECLINED SINCE 2013 FROM A SCORE OF 73 TO 70. (TIE.) 4. WHEN ADJUSTING FOR INFLATION, UTAH HOMEOWNERS' MONTHLY COSTS HAVE DECREASED BY 10% SINCE 2007, WHILE RENTERS' COSTS HAVE INCREASED BY 14%. (TIE.) 6.ENROLLMENT IN HIGH-DEDUCTIBLE HEALTH INSURANCE PLANS IN UTAH INCREASED FROM 3% TO 30% DURING THE PAST DECADE. 7.UTAH FOUNDATION DETERMINED THE NET EFFECT OF FEDERAL AND STATE INCOME TAX CHANGES DISPROPORTIONATELY BENEFITED THE WEALTHY AT THE EXPENSE OF MIDDLE- INCOME HOUSEHOLDS WITH LARGE FAMILIES. THE LEGISLATURE LATER ACTED TO ADDRESS THE DISPARITY. 8.DESPITE PERCEPTIONS TO THE CONTRARY, UTAH'S TRUTH IN TAXATION LAW HAS NOT PREVENTED LOCAL GOVERNMENTS FROM KEEPING PACE WITH POPULATION GROWTH AND INFLATION. (TIE.) 8. IN UTAH, INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES MAKE UP LESS THAN 15% OF MEDICAID ENROLLMENT, BUT ACCOUNT FOR NEARLY HALF OF ALL SPENDING. (TIE.) 10. COMPARED WITH OTHER STATES, UTAH COMES UP SHORT IN ENGLISH LEARNER EDUCATIONAL SPENDING, PROVIDING ONLY ABOUT A 3% INCREASE IN COMBINED FEDERAL AND STATE FUNDING OVER BASE PER-PUPIL SPENDING.