SALT LAKE CITY — After state legislators backed off of some of the cuts planned for the next state budget, Utah’s meat-inspector jobs were taken off the chopping block, according to The Associated Press. Meatpacking plants were willing to pay higher fees for the state program as opposed to dealing with federal meat inspectors, explained Utah Agriculture Commissioner Leonard Blackham.

Small processors selling meat locally are only required to have products state-inspected.

Republicans who control the Utah House and Senate agreed to restore $136 million of the spending they planned to cut for the fiscal year starting July 1, under a tentative budget deal struck Feb. 26. As a result, 12 meat inspectors will be keeping their jobs.

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