Davis OKs vote on sales-tax hike

Published: Wednesday, June 13, 2007 12:02 a.m. MDT
 |  E-MAIL | PRINT | FONT + - 
FARMINGTON — The Davis County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday unanimously decided to let residents vote on a sales-tax increase in the November election.

The .25 percent tax increase, if passed in November, would provide money to be used for various transportation projects in Davis County, although a prioritized list of projects has yet to be drawn up. The list would be created if voters pass the increase.

Commissioner Bret Millburn called it "an opportunity for the residents to do their own prioritization."

Similar measures are expected in Weber and Box Elder counties in coming weeks.

It would be Davis County's third .25 percent increase for transportation since the Utah Legislature began allowing counties to raise transportation money with sales-tax revenue. The .25 percent increase would yield $10 million to $12 million a year, said Steve Rawlings, Davis County clerk/auditor.

During Tuesday's commission meeting, commissioners heard from representatives from the Davis Chamber of Commerce, Davis County Council of Governments and Wasatch Front Regional Council, all urging commissioners to put the tax increase to the people for a vote.

Story continues below

"The good news, of course, is that Davis County is booming," said John Pitt, president and chief executive officer of the Davis Chamber. "But it brings gridlock."

Pitt said a better transportation system would allow commerce to flow more easily and help attract more businesses to Davis County.

At least one-fourth of the .25 percent tax increase would have to be used for corridor preservation, according to state law. Corridor preservation means purchasing the right-of-way for future road building.

Through 2030, there are about $2 billion worth of projects needed in Davis County, said Chuck Chappell, Wasatch Front Regional Council's executive director.

West Point Mayor John Petroff, who serves as the regional council's chairman, supports the ballot measure and told commissioners he also supported their imposition of a $10 fee for each vehicle registered in Davis County, money that will be used for corridor preservation.


E-mail: jdougherty@desnews.com

Comments

You can be the first to comment on this story.

previousnext

Latest comments

It should come as no surprise that American and British casualties have...

Millsap will be an average player in Portland. Roy runs that team and the...

I had to re-read the article after reading these posts. I didn't read...

Many people obviously love Brother Pratt, but my heart goes out to his...

2 men cited in trespassing on LDS plaza

Why does inacceptable behavior become justifiable under the guise of...

I hope I am not speaking too quickly, but in the about ten comments I have...

It is ZION for your information---- for now anyway. Secede?? Why should we...

We could pull out of this recession by extending the Bush tax cuts that are...

| 9:21 a.m. July 10, 2009 I'm not surprised to hear that Sen Bennett is...

It ain't over till the fat lady gets the red dress.

Advertisements