Businesses, Local Officials Rally for Transportation Measure

None by KCPW

(KCPW News) More than a hundred business people, lobbyists, lawmakers and local officials rallied in Salt Lake City Monday to support a measure the State Legislature will consider during Special Session tomorrow. The group, known as the 2015 Transportation Alliance, insists sales taxes are better way to pay for transportation than property taxes. Further, they say the tax hike needs to happen now if there's any hope the projects will be done in the next decade. At a rally yesterday, they made their final appeal to lawmakers. KCPW's Julie Rose brings us a few of their voices:

 

State Senator Sheldon Killpack says there's enough support to pass a measure in Special Session tomorrow that could result in a sales tax hike to pay for roads and public transit.

At a rally of more than a hundred business people, lawmakers, lobbyists and public officials today, Killpack compared the special session challenge to quote "keeping all the rabbits on a flatbed trailer." Still, he and the local business community are optimistic voters will have the chance to raise sales taxes this November - leading to more road projects, TRAX lines and commuter rail being complete by the year 2015.

Proponents are now tempering public expectations, acknowledging that even with a sales tax hike there may not be enough money to do all four TRAX spurs originally proposed. Without the infusion of cash from a sales tax hike, transportation officials say all of the projects could take two or three times longer, and cost more in the end.

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