Senators Change Their Tune on Transportation Bill

None by KCPW

(KCPW News) A week ago, Republicans in the Utah State Senate were unwilling to support a proposal that would let counties boost their sales tax to pay for transportation. That led to a blitz of meetings and lobbying from local businesses - a last ditch effort to get the proposal included on Governor Huntsman's call for a special session. And it worked:

"I think after most senators had a chance to receive a copy of the bill, the general feeling is very positive," says Senator Sheldon Killpack.

Killpack drove the negotiations that gave Huntsman enough confidence to include the bill in the special session. He says it was important for reluctant Republicans in the Senate to see that the bill would benefit all counties in the state.

"Currently the only counties that have option to take the sales tax and put any portion of that towards surface roads is Salt Lake and Utah Counties," says Killpack. "We tried in this bill to create some parity of opportunity so other counties could do the same."

Which means Salt Lake and Utah Counties may have a tax hike on their ballots this November, but others are sure to follow. Killpack estimates a quarter cent sales tax increase in every county would raise about $100 million a year for transportation. Still far short of $16.5 billion dollars in unmet transportation needs for Utah.

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