One big thing:
Utah legislators are asking every state agency to justify its spending—and programs that don’t deliver will be cut, consolidated, or redirected to priorities that work.
Why it matters:
At a time when Utah families are stretched thin by rising costs, the state is applying the same scrutiny to its own budget that households use at the kitchen table.
“Families step back and ask hard questions: What do we really need? What’s working? And what can we live without? And they should expect Government to be no different,” said Mike Schultz, Speaker, Utah House of Representatives.
The approach:
The House has directed every agency and appropriations committee to audit their budgets, using fiscal analysts to flag programs that are underperforming, duplicative, or outdated.
- “It’s not about cutting essential services. Core programs will always be funded,” Schultz said.
- “But at a time when life is getting more expensive for Utahns, we have a responsibility to cut costs that don’t deliver real value, and either reinvest those dollars in programs that do, or return them to the people who earned them.”
It’s already working:
Last year, higher education eliminated more than $20 million in administrative costs. Those savings were redirected to workforce-aligned programs and lower student fees.
What makes Utah different:
Every legislator serves on an appropriations committee, giving every region a seat at the table.
“And because we balance our budget every single year—unlike the federal government—we know fiscal discipline matters,” Schultz said.
The bottom line:
“That’s government efficiency done right… leaner, more accountable, and focused on what works… so more money stays where it belongs: with Utah families,” Schultz said.
