Council Puts Local Option Sales Tax on the Ballot

Today during our county council meeting, we voted to put the local option sales tax increase on the ballot for the voters to decide.

I voted for this because I believe government closest to the people governs best, and that is in cities and townships. All 16 cities in Salt Lake County passed resolutions asking the County Council to put this issue on the ballot.

In my previous post I outlined some of the other reasons I felt okay about putting this issue on the ballot this fall. I also included details on how the tax would be broken down.

I don’t know that I am necessarily in favor or against the sales tax increase at this point. I want to make sure the public hears from our cities, the county and Utah Transit Authority specific projects they are planning to fund with their portion of the tax so we can be as transparent as possible to voters. I would like to get a list from each city, as well as the county and UTA to put on our website so voters know exactly how this will be spent and why it is needed. This information should also be sent to every voter in a voter information pamphlet.

Why should we invest in transportation?
We know that roads cost more taxpayer dollars when they are not maintained. Things like slurry seals, chip seals and overlays, that help keep roads in good shape cost money, but are far less expensive than going without maintenance and having to rebuild a road years later. As the cost of oil increases, more money needs to be put towards road maintenance. Asphalt is 90 percent oil based. I also know that good transportation infrastructure directly impacts economic development and helps us maintain a healthy economy for years to come, which ultimately saves taxpayer dollars. Whether or not these things can be funded through more conservative government spending, or if we need to increase the sales tax to pay for these things is what I hope to figure out in the coming weeks and months.

This does NOT cost $200 per year for a family of four on average!
You may have heard some organizations say that this will cost families $200 per year, or $50 for an individual. Honestly, I can't figure out their math.

If a family of four spends $80,000 per year on taxable items (not including food), then yes, it will cost that. But most people in Salt Lake County don't make that much money, let alone would be spending that much on taxable items. Keep in mind this tax increase doesn't affect the tax on food.

According to the Census Bureau, the median household income from 2009-2013 in Salt Lake County was $60,000. If a family who made $60,000 spent half of their income on non-food taxable items (which is a pretty high estimate), the annual amount of sales tax they pay would be $2100. In that scenario, this tax increase would be about $78 more per year.

I'm not saying $78 per year isn't a lot of money. It is. As government leaders we should be looking at every dime we take from taxpayers and make sure it is going to services that are vital to the community. But I don't like it when people give inaccurate info. (Keep in mind that a lot of businesses pay sales tax, so not all of the $54 million in revenue comes from residents.)

What will the ballot say?
The County Council doesn't get to have much say in the ballot language, since the state legislature approved it. Here is the ballot language that was finalized today:

EXHIBIT A

FORM OF BALLOT

AN OPINION QUESTION TO PROVIDE FUNDING FOR TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENTS SUCH AS ROADS, SIDEWALKS, TRAILS, MAINTENANCE, BUS AND RAIL SERVICE, AND SAFETY FEATURES

Shall Salt Lake County, Utah, be authorized to impose a quarter-of-one-percent (0.25%, the equivalent of 1 cent for every $4 spent) sales and use tax for the specific purpose of transportation improvements, such as roads, trails, sidewalks, maintenance, bus and rail service, and traffic and pedestrian safety features, with revenues divided among the county, cities and towns, and the public transit provider within the County?

	FOR THE TAX
	AGAINST THE TAX

.