Utah’s public education spending remains among the lowest in the nation—and the state is in no rush to change that this legislative session, according to the Governor’s Office of Planning and Budget.
“We are not in a race to outspend other states,” officials said when asked if Utah plans to alter its reputation as a state with low public education spending. “Student outcomes are what truly matter, and a focus only on funding does not tell the whole story.”
Since 2014, Utah’s public education budget has nearly doubled, up from $3.8 billion that year to $7.7 billion in fiscal 2024, according to state budget reports. And if lawmakers embrace Gov. Spencer Cox’s plan for fiscal 2025, schools may have an additional $855 million to spend.
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