Public Safety Bond Shot Down in Close Vote

None by Eric Ray

(KCPW News) In what turned out to be the election's closest vote, Salt Lake City residents decided yesterday the $192 million price tag for new public safety facilities was too high. The result was a disappointing one for Salt Lake City Police Chief Chris Burbank.

"I believe that the need for these facilities exists and the outcome does not diminish that need," says Burbank. "As we go forward we need to look at how we get this accomplished. The idea of staying in the facilities that we have is just not reasonable whatsoever."

With nearly 40,000 votes cast, only 291 votes separated the "nays" from the "yays" on the bond proposition. According to Salt Lake City election materials, the bond would have raised property taxes $175 per year for 20 years on a $300,000 home. Now Burbank says it's back to the drawing board.

"We need to get together with the new mayor as well as those people who questioned this and say 'how are we going to get this accomplished' because nobody questioned the need," says Burbank.

Had it passed, the bond would have paid for new police and fire department headquarters downtown; a new emergency operations center; a police and fire station in Sugar House; and a fire station and training center on the Westside.

Email to a friendPosted in KCPW Newsroom, Election Coverage, and Election 2007. Copyright 2008 KCPW