Scott Sommerdorf  |  The Salt Lake Tribune             
After midnight, Utah Governor Gary Herbert thanks the Representatives for their work as the Legidlators ended the 2012 session in the Utah House of Representatives, Thursday, March 8, 2012.

On tax-cut plan, governor says don’t get hung up on numbers

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Republican Gov. Gary Herbert says people shouldn’t get “hung up on the numbers” when talking about differing proposals for a tax cut.

Herbert told The Associated Press on Tuesday that he’s glad to see many lawmakers agree that Utah needs to tax more services as sales tax revenue dwindles in a changing economy.

Herbert proposed a $200 million tax cut to go along with that plan. New House Speaker Brad Wilson did one better by floating a $225 million cut that would be the biggest in state history.

Wilson, also a Republican, says the state shouldn’t shy away from a larger number if it’s possible. The record-holder now is a $220 million cut about a decade ago.

Utah has a billion-dollar surplus powered by the state’s humming economy.