There's a debate in Utah about whether to cut a "reading tax." What's remarkable is not simply that a tax may actually be eliminated, but that it exists in the first place.

At issue is former Gov. Olene Walker's reading program, designed to give extra help to children in kindergarten through third grade.

The program was a pet project for Walker in 2004. But a political stand-off took place over the $30 million price tag. Finally GOP legislative leaders said they would fund $15 million -- $2.5 million of it in one-time money -- if local districts would match the rest. School boards wanting the state money have levied a special property tax to pull it down.

The program is popular with school districts, many of which are hiring reading specialists and giving teachers more specialized literacy training.

Micro-budgeting, anyone? Maybe there should be a separate tax for electricity, another one for math teachers, and a third for a new curriculum in the science department?