Springville bond on ballot today

SPRINGVILLE — A survey done by Springville city officials indicates that 65 percent of its 398 respondents support the city building a new recreation center and 48 percent support a taxpayer-paid aquatics center.

But the Utah Taxpayers Association has launched a campaign against today's $19.9 million bond election. Two residents also jumped into the fray, mailing a brochure to every Springville household urging voters to oppose the measure.

The funding, if approved, will pay for new city buildings, in addition to the recreation facilities. Voters are being asked to approve three ballot measures:

• A new public safety building, library and City Hall for $7.5 million. The City Council has discussed remodeling an existing city-owned building for about $2 million for the library.

• A new recreation center for $9 million.

• A new outdoor aquatics center for $3.9 million. The proposal for this water playground includes a lap pool, play area, tubing river, water slides and concession area.

Residents can vote at 110 S. Main from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. A low turnout is expected. Springville's last municipal election two years ago mustered less than a 20 percent turnout, a city official said.

As many as 50 volunteers on Saturday and Monday papered the town with 5,000 leaflets urging voters to vote against the proposal, which the taxpayers' association labels as irresponsible. If approved, residential taxpayers will pay an additional $54 for every $100,000 in property valuation, while taxes on business property will go up $98.18 on every $100,000 of value, the association says.

Half those polled said they would support renovating or replacing city buildings that city leaders say are outmoded or outdated, but most said they didn't want a tax increase to do it.

"We talked to a lot of people on Saturday while passing out flyers," Mike Jerman, vice president of the Utah Taxpayers Association said. "We found out that most were opposed, but they shouldn't be complacent about voting."

Most residents said the city needs to put its spending in order rather than use taxpayer money on recreation and water parks. Few people will benefit from them, Jerman said, while all will foot the bill.

Meanwhile, residents Earl Child and Kent Palfreyman researched city finances and mailed 800 brochures to residents urging them to vote against the measure.