Chamber calls for another look at proposed public-safety bond

Salt Lake City business leaders are calling for financial scrutiny of a proposed $192 million public safety bond, saying costs and needs for police and fire facilities need more explanation.

The Salt Lake Chamber's board of governors stopped short of opposing the bond in a recent statement, instead requesting that they be involved in financial analysis and needs assessment to keep costs under control.

"We believe that support for the bond, which city residents will vote on this November, should be based on the highest standards of public finance," the statement reads. "The public needs a better explanation of the costs and benefits, needs assessment and programming review, and financing information."

The Salt Lake Chamber's vow not to oppose the public safety bond, which will appear on ballots as Proposition 1, comes with three stipulations:

• The chamber wants members of its board of governors to serve on the advisory committee to the project.

• It wants Salt Lake City to conduct an independent review of the cost and needs assessment for the new facilities, with the goal of refining the scope of the project and reducing costs.

• It wants to trim the $192 million price tag.

"Based on the information that has been shared with the chamber, we believe that further analysis and best business practices may reduce the total amount needed by as much as 10 to 20 percent," according to the statement.

Salt Lake City fire Capt. Scott Winkler said the city is complying with the chamber's requests.

"Our books are open for the chamber," Winkler said Monday. "We look forward to being partners with them on this."

If Proposition 1 passes Nov. 6, the $192 million bond would cover the cost of five public-safety structures at three locations. A new public-safety building, an emergency operations center and a combined parking/evidence storage structure would be grouped as a downtown public-safety campus. The bond also would pay for a new west-side fire station and training center in Glendale and a combined east-side police/fire public-safety facility in Sugar House.

Salt Lake Chamber President Lane Beattie said all of those facilities are needed, and the chamber believes "a bond" is necessary.

"We are not in opposition to the bond," Beattie said, "but we're hoping to reduce what we hope would be substantial portion of that bond."