Election Funding Inequity Alarms SL County Officials

None by KCPW

(KCPW News) Salt Lake County officials are alarmed at the Lieutenant Governor's plan to give them 200-thousand dollars less than they need to run the statewide election this November. County Mayor Peter Corroon says it's particularly troubling in light of the extra money other counties are getting for the same election:

"Sometimes I think there's a perception that Salt Lake County is flush with cash, which we're not," says Corroon. "So they're more willing to pay our own way, even when others aren't. I'm just not sure what the funding formula was that allowed other counties to get more than what they need and yet have Salt Lake County get less."

State elections official Michael Cragun says the funding is based on the number of active registered voters in each county. Rural counties with more ground to cover receive additional funds. Some of those rural counties will get tens of thousands of dollars more than it cost them to hold the June 2006 primary election. Salt Lake County Councilman Joe Hatch says the inequity is typical of state funding formulas:

"That is something I've grown to expect time after time," says Hatch. "Whether it's roads, conventions - anything. The Legislature and the state of Utah tend to favor rural areas over urban and Republican areas over Democratic areas."

The 200-thousand dollar shortfall puts Salt Lake County in a budget pinch. Mayor Corroon says the county will either have to dig into the county's reserves, cut funding for another program or spend less money on the election. That could mean fewer polling locations and longer lines on Election Day.

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