The Utah Legislature will likely cut funding next year for advertising tourism outside the state. State lawmakers and the governor may support cutting funding for tourism by more than a third.
“We certainly don’t want to compromise our ability to compete with Colorado in tourism,” said Rep. Christine Johnson, a Salt Lake City Democrat who represents the Snyderville Basin.
But Rep. Ron Bigelow, R-West Valley City, said during its 45-day general session the Legislature will slash many state budgets.
“No funds are safe in their existing programs because we want to balance the budget for fiscal year 2010,” Bigelow told his House colleagues Monday. “The Legislature is still in session.”
State Sen. Kevin Van Tassell, a Vernal Republican who represents Park City, said revenue the state generates from visitors helps drive the economy in Utah.
Still, the biggest challenge facing legislators in 2009 is balancing a budget plagued by tax revenue that is dwindling, Van Tassell said.
Income tax is off by 12 percent and sales tax is down 10 percent, he said.
Money earmarked for tourism advertising outside the state could decrease, Van Tassell explained.
Pre-trial slated for former hoops star
A pre-trial hearing is slated Monday for Teddy Dupay, a former point guard at the University of Florida charged with rape and kidnapping in connection with an incident that occurred last summer at Stein Eriksen Lodge in Deer Valley.
Dupay, whose legal name is Edward Raymond Dupay, played on the runner-up team in the 2000 NCAA basketball tournament. Court documents charge Dupay with felony rape, aggravated kidnapping and aggravated sexual assault, all first-degree felonies. The accusations stem from what charging documents describe as an attack at 7700 Stein Way.
Dupay had reportedly had an on-again, off-again relationship with the 28-year-old woman he allegedly attacked. But Dupay pleaded not guilty to raping and kidnapping the woman.
The alleged victim said Dupay hit and kicked her about 150 times. She reportedly had bruises on her arm, shoulder and thigh, scratches on her back and a swollen left eye, investigators claim, adding that the victim also suffered two fractured ribs.
Dupay started as a guard for the Florida Gators when the school lost to Michigan State in the NCAA championship game. A Florida spokeswoman said Dupay played basketball at the school from 1999 to 2001.
A trial for Dupay could occur if the sides are unable to settle the case.
Politicos side with Utes
U.S. Sen. Orrin Hatch recently blasted the Bowl Championship Series and called for changes to the system that determines the champion of college football.
Speaking on the Senate floor, Hatch praised the Sugar Bowl champion Utes and called the BCS system unfair, claiming it excludes teams from many conferences from contending for a national championship.
The University of Utah was the nation’s only unbeaten team and should have been playing for the national championship, Hatch said.
Meanwhile, the Utah House of Representatives is discussing a resolution that recognizes the “University of Utah championship football team.”
The legislation recognizes “the superior performance of the 2008 University of Utah football team and coaching staff, and its pursuit and attainment of true excellence in football.”
The University of Utah went 13-0 and defeated University of Alabama in the Sugar Bowl, the resolution states.
” Utah held out hope for a share of the national title after dismantling an Alabama team that was ranked No. 1 for five weeks in the regular season,” states House Concurrent Resolution 4 sponsored by Rep. Jim Bird, R-West Jordan.
Rep. Mel Brown, a Coalville Republican who represents Park City, co-sponsored the legislation.
” Alabama’s only loss prior to meeting Utah was to Florida in the [Southeastern Conference] Championship game,” the resolution states. ” the Utes jumped to a 21-0 first-quarter lead and finished the game with both the most points scored against, and the fewest point allowed to, Alabama in the 2008 season.”