November Election Creates Tension for SL City, County

None by KCPW

(KCPW News) Salt Lake City residents may not be getting a fair deal in the quest to fund this November's election, according to Councilman Carlton Christensen. Salt Lake County wants 429-thousand dollars to run the city's election in conjunction with the statewide referendum on vouchers. But now the County is considering adding its own question of a bond for Hogle Zoo to the ballot, so Christensen thinks the city should get a discount on the election costs:

"Whatever is being added to the ballot, at least pay an incremental share of that cost," says Christensen. "Because whether some people like it or not, Salt Lake City residents are residents of both the County and the State and ought to be treated equitably as such."

Christensen worries city residents will be asked to subsidize the cost of the statewide election and county bond issue in other parts of the county.

Salt Lake County Council Chair Mark Crockett says the Hogle Zoo bond issue is not yet certain to be on the November ballot, but either way "we aren't receiving enough money to hold our elections from the state already."

"But if we do end up doing the zoo bond, then I suppose everyone has a stake in the game and we'll have to step back and look at what's fair," adds Crockett.

Salt Lake County elections officials say they're asking the city for only what they need to run the municipal portion of the election. Extra costs for the bond issue and the voucher referendum will be absorbed by Salt Lake County, especially since a state plan to pay for the election leaves Salt Lake County 200-thousand dollars short.

Tonight the Salt Lake City Council will debate options to pay their portion of the November election.

Email to a friendPosted in KCPW Newsroom, Legislative Coverage, and 2007 Legislative Coverage. Copyright 2009 KCPW