Officials Take Public Safety Facilities Back to the Drawing Board

None by Eric Ray

(KCPW News) Salt Lake City officials say the city's need for new public safety facilities remains even after the rejection of a $192 million bond by voters earlier this week.

Salt Lake City Councilman Eric Jergensen says the immediate needs are a new downtown headquarters and emergency operations center. The city has plans to move forward with forming an advisory committee to discuss options for the project. Jergensen says a special election could be held in the middle of next year to vote on a revised proposal. Other options include piggybacking a new proposal onto a city or countywide primary election or waiting for the general election next year.

It's widely believed that voters in Salt Lake City suffered a case of "sticker shock" when it came to the public safety bond. However, Jergensen says a property tax bond is the least expensive way to fund new facilities.

To listen to a longer conversation with Jergensen, as well as Salt Lake City Police Chief Chris Burbank, click here.

Email to a friendPosted in KCPW Newsroom. Copyright 2008 KCPW