Let taxpayers know true cost of development

That might not be so bad if it affected only cities, but it ties up revenues for every taxing entity that lays claim to that district. That includes libraries, school districts, mosquito abatement districts — even the state. And because nifty new projects often lead to growth, they eventually put stresses on libraries, schools and other services, and these in turn end up having to raise taxes to cover the difference.

People will show up at school board meetings to yell at board members over a tax hike, but no one thinks to lift up the curtain and look at the redevelopment Oz pulling the strings.

Thomas' plan would take all the other taxing entities off the hook and make cities alone bear the brunt of their own projects. This new redevelopment levy would appear on your property tax notice, along with schools, libraries and all the rest. And none of those would be forced to continue paying for any current city projects.

If this took effect tomorrow, people suddenly would understand how frisky their own politicians have been with redevelopment funds. In my own city, South Jordan, taxes would rise by $70.77 on a $200,000 home, according to the auditor's figures. In Sandy, they would go up by $37.55.

But in Midvale, they would decline by $61.38.

Thomas told me it wouldn't be practical to get rid of tax incentives to businesses all together. The sad truth, he said, is this would put Utah at a disadvantage with other states that use them to lure business.

"I'm not saying RDAs are good or bad," he said. "I'm trying to make spending transparent and accountable."

I don't know if this plan has a chance on Capitol Hill, but I'd like to see it twinned with a bill that would require cities to periodically revisit the economic development claims they made when agreeing to pay for stadiums or other pet projects. They would have to publicly report on whether taxpayers are coming out ahead or, as is surely the case, falling behind.

Then they would have to stand in a town square, point to a life-size copy of the report's bottom line and say, "I did that."

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Jay Evensen is editorial page editor of the Deseret Morning News. E-mail: even@desnews.com