SALT LAKE CITY -- Envious states may be looking at Utah's Capitol to steal ideas.

"Other governors love to steal things from other states," said Susan Urahn, managing director of the Pew Center, in a teleconference Monday. "And we love to help."

The center ranked the states based on how well they manage their budgets, staffs, infrastructure and information. States were graded on their recruitment and retention of qualified employees, their use of information and technology, management of budgets and purchasing systems, and planning for improvements to roads, bridges and other core infrastructure.

Utah was given an A-minus along with Virginia and Washington.

"It's boring work, but it pays the bills," said Sen. John Valentine, R-Orem. "It's nice to see that once in a while the state is recognized for its efforts."

Gov. John Huntsman was also pleased.

"It's awesome," said Huntsman. "It's deserved by this state. We're finally being recognized. Whatever your endeavor in life it's always heartening to reach that No. 1 position."

Huntsman said the rating should comfort taxpayers and those who do business in Utah.

"It's proof positive to the taxpayer that their dollars are being used effectively and efficiently," he said. "Companies are likely to do business or expand in a state that's at the top of the heap."

The "Grading the States" report card was the fourth in a series of assessments issued by Pew's Government Performance Project and Governing Magazine. The last was released in 2005. The rankings are based on reviews by a panel of state government experts.

"The leading states are really states where there is a sustained long-term commitment on state management performance and innovation," said Neal Johnson, director of the Government Performance Project for the Pew Center. "It has really become a part of the culture in those states."

Washington, for example, holds public meetings led by the governor to monitor how its programs are working, while Utah has a sophisticated financial tracking system that provides up-to-the-minute data. Virginia offers its employees incentives for meeting goals and improving service.

The states that finished at the bottom of the list, such as New Hampshire, which received a D-plus, don't focus enough on gathering information as a tool to improve. Those states are often so conservative with their money that it ends up costing them more, Johnson said.

The gap between Utah and New Hampshire reflects "a culture of commitment in improving service to the public," Johnson said.

"If you take a comparison with New Hampshire," Urahn said, "they have a hard time knowing what it spends its money on, while Wyoming knows how much they spend on salt on each mile of highway."

"Utah has taken a very strong approach to using the information it has to make the decisions with better maintenance, a stronger work force and budget and finance system that remains in balance," Johnson said.

Urahn said the rankings are intended as a guide to other states. The report credited Utah's long-term financial outlook and Johnson said Utah's assessment of its personnel and work force needs are "top notch."

"The governor and the Legislature work collaboratively together to use these various systems," Johnson said. "We just don't see that type of collaboration in very many states."

Utah's strong economy has made it difficult to find qualified workers, the report said. In response, the state is offering new employees good benefits, bonuses and raises to retain and find employees.

The report said: "They'll need to do this -- and to evaluate every employee on a more regular basis -- if they hope to take full advantage of the young talent willing to undertake careers in state government."

The Pew report said Utah legislators were able to cross party boundaries to get things done.

"We work well together between the legislative and executive branch, and there is a spirit of cooperation," said House Speaker Greg Curtis.

Now the challenge is to hold its place as king of the hill.

"We need to keep doing what we're doing," Huntsman said. "We reached a cruising altitude as a state. We've revamped resources and we've revamped technology."

The Pew Center researches and develops assessments for all 50 states on a wide variety of issues, hoping to solve problems and improve state governments.

Associated Press Writer Ben Evans contributed to this story. Daily Herald Reporter Joe Pyrah contributed to this story.

On the Net:

The report is available at www.pewcenteronthestates.org/gpp.