Public vs. private tiff may go to new panel

Melva Sine, president and chief executive officer of the Utah Restaurant Association, said many Utah restaurants are paying taxes that ultimately are being used against them in the form of public buildings. She noted that the Utah Olympic Park, the Utah State Fairpark and the Museum of Utah Art and History are advertising for meetings, events, receptions and corporate get-togethers and that courthouses are a popular site for receptions.

While Sine said she is unsure how much money is being siphoned away from the private sector, Sen. Chris Buttars, R-West Jordan, suggested it is "well over a hundred million dollars."

"We're just talking about the tip of the iceberg here," Buttars said.

Sine said Sen. Howard Stephenson, R-Draper, is drafting legislation calling for a two-year task force to study the issues.

"It is complex enough for a task force," said Rep. Sheryl Allen, R-Bountiful.

"We as a committee need to state that this is a problem, it is getting bigger and it needs to be addressed," Buttars said.

Monday's vote will be part of the task force's report to the Workforce Services and Community and Economic Development Interim Committee. The lone dissenting task force vote came from Sen. Patrice Arent, D- South Cottonwood. She said that "even defining what we're studying is difficult" and said she preferred deferring discussion until Stephenson's bill is introduced.

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