Utah Taxpayers Association Opposes Hogle Zoo Bond

Jul 08, 2008 by Eric Ray

(KCPW News) The Utah Taxpayers Association is speaking out in opposition to a $65 million bond request by Hogle Zoo. In its latest newsletter, the organization questions the zoo's assertion to the Salt Lake County Council that is has a record of decreasing government dependence.

"The ZAP tax has increased by 31%. They get annual appropriations from both the county and the legislature. So for them to assert that somehow they are cutting their dependence on taxpayer dollars is just a flat out lie," says Royce Van Tassell, Vice President of the Utah Taxpayers Association.

Van Tassell says the zoo's operating revenue from taxpayers has risen 353% over the last ten years. The reasons to oppose the zoo's bond request are numerous, says Van Tassell, and include future property tax increases to build more schools and improve the county's traffic congestion issues.

"With all of these much higher priorities out there, it just makes no sense whatsoever to ask voters to approve another $65 million," says Van Tassell.

For all the same reasons, Van Tassell says the Utah Taxpayers Association also opposes a $19.5 million bond request by Tracy Aviary.

The Salt Lake County Council is expected to decide later this month whether to put the bond requests on November's ballot.

Click here to view the organization's July newsletter.

Email to a friendPosted in KCPW Newsroom. Copyright 2008 KCPW