Utah Taxpayers Association Award Winners

The Utah Taxpayers Association annually awards community leaders and legislators for their outstanding public service and taxpayer advocacy. Below is a list of previous award recipients:

2016
Representative Dan McCay – Taxpayer Advocate of the Year
In recognition of his work to prevent automatic property tax increases through the passage of House Bill 25 during the 2016 Legislative Session.

Salt Lake County Councilmember Richard Snelgrove – Taxpayer Advocate of the Year
In recognition of his exemplary defense of taxpayers against tax increases and nonessential county spending.

2015
Special Fraud Group of the Utah State Tax Commission – Taxpayer Watchdog Award
For exposing and preventing tax frauds from stealing income tax refunds in Utah and throughout the United States and for strengthening protection of taxpayers’ identification and confidential information.

R. Bruce Johnson – Lifetime Service Award
In recognition of his exemplary leadership as Chair of the Utah State Tax Commission, President of the Federation of Tax Administrators, Chair of the Multistate Tax Commission, Chair of the American Bar Association Tax Section Committee on State and Local Taxes, and Board Member of the National Tax Association and for positively affecting tax stability, predictability and equity.

2014

Senator Deidre Henderson – Taxpayer Advocate of the Year Award

In recognition of her leadership as Chair of the Revenue and Taxation Standing Committee, and her sponsorship of SB 61, which improved transparency in Utah’s Truth-in-Taxation law.

SHED Development – Taxpayer Angel Investor

In recognition for assuming the risk of building charter schools so more Utah families receive a quality education of their choice.

2013

Commissioner Marc Johnson – Excellence in Public Service Award

In recognition for 12 years of exemplary service as Utah State Tax Commissioner and providing expertise and impartiality in Tax adjudication.

Executive Director John Njord – Excellence in Public Service Award

In recognition for 12 years as Executive Director of Utah Department of Transportation, giving taxpayers innovation in pricing and highway design providing on-time and under-budget construction.

2012

Keith Prescott – Lifetime Service Award

David Crapo – Taxpayer Advocate of the Year

2011
Senator Dan Liljenquist- Taxpayer Advocate Award
In recognition of your work in sponsoring and passing SB 70 to reform Utah’s Medicaid system.

Representative Keith Grover- Profile in Courage Award
In recognition of your work in sponsoring and passing HB 183 which ended taxpayer subsidies for local union representatives.

2010
Senator Dan Liljenquist- Taxpayer Advocate Award
In recognition of your work in sponsoring and passing SB 63 and SB 43 to reform Utah’s Retirement System and solve Utah’s $6.5 billion unfunded pension liability by moving Utah from an unpredictable defined benefit plan to a predictable defined contribution plan.

Senator Wayne Niederhauser- Taxpayer Advocate Award
In recognition of your work in sponsoring and passing SB 38 in 2008 and SB 18 in 2009 to increase transparency in government finance.

2009

Representative Carl Wimmer- Taxpayer Advocate Award
For winning enactment of HJR 8- House Joint Resolution Providing Constitutional Protection of the Right to Secret Ballot, Making Utah the First State to Refer the Issue to Voters.

Tax Commission Chair Pam Hendrickson- Excellence in Public Service Award
For twelve years of exemplary service as Commissioner on the State Tax Commission and the last nine years as Chair of the State Tax Commission.

2008

Representative Craig Frank- Taxpayer Advocate Award
For winning enactment of House Bill 75- Inventory and Review of Competitive Activities. HB75 was named by the Reason Foundation as the “Nation’s Best State Privatization Law.”

Senator Mike Dmitrich- Lifetime Service Award
For forty years of distinguished service in the Utah House of Representatives and the Utah Senate and for his constructive and cooperative leadership style as Minority Leader in both houses.

M. Gay Taylor- Excellence in Public Service Award
For twenty-five years of exemplary service in the Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel and leadership as General Counsel for twenty-three years.

2007
Ray Nelson- Excellence in Public Service Award
For developing financial tools and economic modeling which provided the data necessary for the Utah Legislature to reform and significantly reduce state income taxes

Governor Jon Huntsman- Taxpayer Advocate Award
For winning enactment of $225 million in tax cuts during the 2007 legislative session, the largest tax cut package in Utah history.

Utah House of Representatives- Taxpayer Advocate Award
For winning enactment of $225 million in tax cuts during the 2007 legislative session, the largest tax cut package in Utah history.

Utah State Senate- Taxpayer Advocate Award
For winning enactment of $225 million in tax cuts during the 2007 legislative session, the largest tax cut package in Utah history.

2006

Greg Holbrook- Excellence in Public Service Award
For his leadership throughout Utah and the Nation in bringing greater accountability to public education finances.

Representative Greg Hughes- Taxpayer Advocate Award
For his leadership during the 2006 legislative session in resurrecting strategic tax cuts to stimulate economic growth

2005
Governor Olene S. Walker- Lifetime Service Award
For her leadership in creating Utah’s Rainy Day Fund, defeating Initiative 1 and promoting tax reform.

Representative David Clark- Taxpayer Advocate Award
For his leadership in sponsoring and winning passage of House Bill 213- Unused Sick Leave At Retirement Amendments during the 2005 legislative session.

Utah County Commission- Excellence in Public Service Award
For administering the most efficient urban county government in Utah.