Organizer ‘pretty optimistic’ tax reform referendum will make the ballot

Kyle Green, left, a volunteer coordinator for a citizens referendum aimed at repealing a tax reform package passed by the Legislature in December, explains the issue to Carlin Miner as he adds his name to the referendum inside the Harmons City Creek store in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Jan. 16, 2020. | Steve Griffin, Deseret News

Deadline for submitting voter signatures is 5 p.m. today

SALT LAKE CITY — The organizer of the referendum to repeal the recently passed state tax reform legislation said Tuesday he’s “pretty optimistic” enough voter signatures will be turned in by the 5 p.m. deadline to qualify for the November ballot.

“Things are looking good,” Fred Cox, a former Republican state lawmaker, said. “I’m not surprised. We have great volunteers.”

Opponents of the tax reform package that reduces income taxes while raising sales tax on food, gas and some services that was passed last month in a special session of the Utah Legislature need nearly 116,000 voter signatures divided proportionately among at least 15 of Utah’s 29 counties.

“Hitting 116,000, I don’t think, is going to be the issue,” Cox said. He said that number needs to be exceeded, to account for signatures that can’t be verified by county clerks. The law also allows referendum signers to seek removal of their names.

He said he anticipates meeting the signature threshold in as many as 20 counties. The effort got a big boost when Harmon’s and Associated Foods announced their support and allowed signatures to be gathered in their stores around the state.

Cox said anyone looking to sign the referendum should do so quickly Tuesday, since all signatures have to be submitted by 5 p.m.

“The earlier the better,” he said. “Some people think, ‘If I’m in line by 5 p.m., we’re good.’ Well, the clerk needs to have it by then.”

By shortly before 10 a.m. Tuesday, the state Election Office reported 48,295 signatures had been verified statewide. Cox said there are many more referendum petition packets yet to be turned in, and urged signature gatherers to make sure they meet the deadline.

“These are people that have a voice. They have signed. We needed to have those submitted,” he said.

If the referendum does qualify for the ballot, voters will have the opportunity to vote whether to retain or repeal the tax reform law passed after a monthslong effort to find a fix to lagging growth in sales tax revenues that fund much of the state budget.

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