Cities, Counties Pick Up State's Open Space Slack

None by KCPW

(KCPW News) Salt Lake County appears poised to join the growing list of local governments with taxpayer bonds to preserve open space. Utah Open Lands Director Wendy Fisher says it's proof that Utahns care about open space - perhaps more than state leaders responsible to fund it.

"Last year the Leray McCallister fund was funded to the tune of $1.4 million compared to Colorado and Nevada who have bonds in the tens - and hundreds - of millions of dollars," says Fisher.

Park City was the first city to set aside taxpayer money for open space. Draper and Salt Lake City followed suit. Fisher adds that money cities and counties spend on preservation projects is often matched by federal dollars as much as four to one. If approved, the Salt Lake County open space bond would raise property taxes for a total of $48-million to spend on regional parks and trails.

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