County Council Bond Move Overly Optimistic?

None by KCPW

Legislature May Not Step Up

(KCPW News) The Salt Lake County Council agreed to put a 900-million dollar property tax bond for TRAX expansion on the November ballot with one condition - it will lobby the state legislature for a sales tax hike to bear some of that burden. But at least one influential lawmaker suspects that's wishful thinking.

"If you're going to pass a resolution to move that forward, you ought to be prepared to deal with the consequences," says State Senator Sheldon Killpack.

Killpack chairs the legislature's transportation committee and advocates a complete overhaul of the state's system for funding roads and transit. Already Utah's road needs far outpace their primary source of revenue - gas tax. If Salt Lake County voters approve the property tax bond and the legislature doesn't kick in sales tax revenues, the council's plans could be foiled. So too, if both voters and the legislature say "no." Killpack won't speak for his colleagues, but says he's unconvinced that either sales or gas taxes should be used for transit:

"In terms of sales tax, my biggest concern is that we take all the headroom out for transit when we have roads tied to a failing funding system," says Killpack. "I ahve absolutely no appetite to put gas tax toward transit. To me that's about the silliest thing I've ever heard."

Killpack is not alone in his skepticism. Governor Huntsman and many legislative leaders say they are reluctant to call a special session for the purpose of raising sales taxes to pay for transportation. The proposal is backed by the Salt Lake Area Chamber of Commerce.

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