SL County Council in Hotseat Again - This Time it's TRAX
None by KCPW
(KCPW News) There's another touchy topic on the Salt Lake County Council's agenda Tuesday and no, it's NOT Real Salt Lake."The County Council really is in the hotseat on this issue," says Councilwoman Jenny Wilson. The Governor and Legislature have atleast for now said they're not willing to deal with this issue."
Wilson is referring to a $900 million property tax increase to pay for new TRAX lines in Salt Lake County. The Utah Transit Authority wants the bond on the November ballot. The Council must approve it, but as Councilman Jim Bradley says, there are several bond issues vying for a ballot spot.
"At what point do we have bond overdose, so to speak," posits Bradley. "It's unfortunate we have all of these bond issues at once. But TRAX is very expensive and we as a council need to explore any way we can mitigate the expense to the taxpayer."
The proposed bond would result in a tax hike of about $100 a year for a $180,000 home. Members of the Salt Lake Chamber of Commerce are asking the State Legislature to let counties pay for transportation through a sales tax increase, instead. Governor Huntsman says he has no plans to call a special session for that purpose. But Councilwoman Jenny Wilson supports a blend of the two proposals "where the Legislature approved a percentage of the sales tax, and then we bond for the other half through property tax."
In fact, Bradley says he and Councilman Joe Hatch hope to get the council's approval to put the bond on the ballot, with a stipulation that if lawmakers decide to allow a sales tax increase during their regular session in January, that money could be used to pay off a portion of the bond.
Other bond issues under consideration for November include money for open space, an aquarium and Zoo, Arts and Parks tax reauthorization.
Email to a friendPosted in KCPW Newsroom. Copyright 2009 KCPW
1. John Christensen said:
Jenny Wilson's a cute lady, too bad she's never had to sign the front of a payroll check as small business owners do every week. She wouldn't be so quick to jump on the property tax issue as a way to fund something that someone else has to go without to pay for. The county council can hardly wait to give someone else's money away, I hope the REAL management tells them to take a hike on the current offer of over 25 million. Here's an idea, give 23 million to the 80,000 plus small businesse's in this state, which would help provide more job's and benefits to their communities. 2 million to help the poor and low income with their dental problems, something else all the communities in the state can benifit from,tell the REAL to get a winning team and call us back.... Just a thought or two from a burned out over taxed small business owner. But does anyone really care what small businesse's do or contribute to their communities?
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