61% back tax hike for TRAX

Funding TRAX expansion through a tax hike could be something the chamber will advocate, she said.

"The business community believes we face an economic imperative" with transportation, said Gochnour. "We are concerned about congestion. We are concerned about air pollution. We are concerned about economic competitiveness and quality of life."

Hatch tried to convince the Salt Lake County Council to put TRAX expansion on the ballot in March, but his colleagues thought the move was premature. Instead, the Council wanted to solely focus on the $10 increase in vehicle-registration fees to fund road-corridor preservation and wait to vote on light-rail expansion later.

Now it's up to UTA or business leaders to ask the council to put TRAX expansion on the ballot, and Hatch expects the council will do so. "It will probably go on," he said.

Tuesday's meeting will be purely informational, according to the County Council agenda. No decisions are expected to be made. The council will also discuss whether to send UTA's proposal to the county's debt-review committee, a team of financial experts responsible for protecting the county's Triple-A bond rating.

Want to share your opinion on TRAX expansion?

Are you willing to pay more property taxes to pay for TRAX expansion? Contact your representative on the Salt Lake County Council:

• District 1 - Joe Hatch 468-2933

• District 2 - Michael Jensen 468-2932

• District 3 - David Wilde 468-2931

• District 4 - Mark Crockett 468-2937

• District 5 - Cort Ashton 468-2935

• District 6 - Marvin Hendrickson 468-2938

• At Large - Randy Horiuchi 468-2936

• At Large - Jenny Wilson 468-2934

• At Large - Jim Bradley 468-2939

To find your district and e-mail your council representative, go to www.council.slco.org.

If you want to hear more, go to the council's meeting this Tuesday at 1 p.m. No public comment will be accepted. The meeting is in Room N2007 at the county government complex, 2001 S. State.

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E-mail: nwarburton@desnews.com; ldethman@desnews.com