Rep. Brady Brammer, R-Highland, spoke at the Highland City Council meeting Tuesday, giving an update on changes made during the 2022 Utah Legislature General Session that could affect the city.

“There’s a saying, never blame a legislative body for doing nothing because when they’re doing nothing they’re not hurting anybody, when they do something that’s when they become dangerous,” Brammer said. “Unfortunately there was a lot that was done this session… most of it is quite positive.”

Brammer began his presentation by commending the state of Utah for its budget management and fiscal responsibility. Brammer stated that education funding per-pupil was increased by 6%, and $248 million was put into a stabilization account in the hope of maintaining a strong education fund.

“Because education system largely relies upon income tax revenue, that’s a more variable tax revenue source, so in 2008 when our economy went down our education revenue dropped in a huge way,” he said. “So what we’ve tried to do is build a fund while times are good since 2008.”

Brammer stated that $1.2 billion was allocated toward transportation during the general session, much of which he believes could be used in Utah County.

“Because Utah County is such a high-growth area, it’s starting to grade out really well in the transportation criteria for which roads are going to be built,” Brammer said. “Highland really has one state road which is S.R. 92, so we don’t see a lot of that … but the need for infrastructure in the northwest portion of Utah County is quite great.”

Brammer mentioned his success in passing the H.B. 232 Utah Lake Authority bill, which he sponsored alongside Sen. Michael K. Mckell. He stated that the Utah Lake Authority will be able to hold more sway than the Utah Lake Commission and that it will draw money from the state level rather than local budgets, as originally planned.

“It’s a tighter group that has far more local control than the commission had,” Brammer said. “And so really what we receive with this authority is the ability to have more of a push on the lake from a local voice with more state funding. We did well on that one.”

Brammer, who is also an attorney, represents Highland, Pleasant Grove, Cedar Hills and Alpine in House District 27, soon to be District 54 under new boundaries.

“I’m still kind of recovering from it and processing everything that happens during the session,” Brammer said. “It’s a quick 45 days, but it’s a busy 45 days.”

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