SALT LAKE CITY-- Education and transportation were among the big winners in the just-completed 2006 Legislature. That's how it appeared early Wednesday afternoon as the Clipper went to press and legislators were preparing to close the 45-day session at midnight. "Good news for education" is how Sen. Greg Bell, R-Fruit Heights, characterized the 6 percent increase in the student weighted pupil unit. On top of that, $195 million (of the surplus) was allocated for roads. "Higher ed was funded at $13 million," he continued. "They didn't get everything they wanted, but they're (officials) actually pretty happy. They got a good salary increase (for faculty, staff) of 3 to 3-1/2 percent.

"They didn't get their building, but we did as much as we could," he said of the Davis Applied Technology College and Weber State University requests for new facilities.

"I think it's been a great session," said Rep. Ann Hardy, R-Bountiful. "I think we've really looked into the tax structure and tried to find ways that will help the taxpayers, both from broadening the base and giving some relief.

"It's been frustrating in some ways," she said. "We had no money when I came in, but I think it's almost harder to have a surplus like this (year)." That sentiment has been shared by other legislators, as well.

"We tried to be fair to everyone. Education has certainly been my top priority," the former educator said. "Education has received more funding than ever before, $270 million of new money. We think this should do some great things.

"We've also funded a lot of human services. This is always frustrating because there are so many needs, but we've tried to be fair and consider all of the needs," Hardy said.

"I'm disappointed we were unable to fund more on the waiting list (of human services)," Bell said. "We didn't fund the Utah Birth Defects Network. There are just huge needs, and the feds sent us cuts of $30 million. We just had to hustle to make it up, not sustain really. There were really big cuts to a lot of programs."

His lobbying bill that would've put a cap on any gifts to legislators of $10 or less, was killed before it could get out of committee. "My colleagues in the Senate just didn't like it. I don't know if it's perks or disclosure. They just don't think there's a problem."

"It's been a hard session," Bell added, speaking of having to grapple with how to split up the $1 billion surplus.

The Governor's office, House and Senate all had different proposals on how to spend it and what kind of tax cuts should be approved.

"As of Monday (Feb. 27), we started the last half of the session," joked Rep. Curt Oda, R-Clearfield, referring to the workload since that time.

"The Senate is playing games, as usual. There's a lot of bantering back and forth," he said.

"We've got until midnight, 14-1/2 hours from now," he said Wednesday morning.

Although Oda said he doesn't agree with reducing the sales tax on food or other purchases, it looked like 2 percent was due to be chopped off.

"Any kind of consumption tax is the fairest kind of tax, because everybody pays it, according to what they spend," he said.

tbusselberg@davisclipper.com