How you should vote on 6 S.L. bond issues

Perhaps there never is a good time to raise taxes. This particular moment, however, seems particularly troublesome. Utah's economy is on the mend, but remains fragile. Meanwhile, the state is facing needs in a number of areas, not the least of which is its rapidly expanding public school system. Anything else that comes along had better be important to deserve support.

Salt Lake City voters will face six bond propositions Tuesday. The City Council wisely decided against requiring voters to either accept or reject all six in one giant bond. This empowers city residents to decide which deserve support and which could wait a little longer.

Taken together, the six eventually would add $34.25 per year to the property taxes of someone who owns a $175,000 house. The owner of a business valued at $1 million would have to pay $251 more per year. This, of course, would be in addition to a tax bill that is the highest among all cities in the state.

• Proposition 1: Hogle Zoo. This would add enough money to allow for expansion of the elephant, rhino and large cat exhibits, and would ensure, for all practical purposes, that the zoo is not relocated. First opened in 1931, the zoo is one of Utah's treasures, but it is suffering from a lack of space and from having to rely on outdated facilities. The new exhibits would be state-of-the-art. Elephants, for example, would have a 400 percent increase in space, and zoo visitors would be taught about the animals and their plight in the wild. Perhaps most compelling is the idea that the $10.2 million this bond would provide would be Salt Lake City's only contribution to a facility that attracts tourists and adds greatly to the quality of life enjoyed by city residents.Vote yes.

• Proposition 2: The Leonardo. This bond adds $10.2 million toward construction of an interactive museum in the city's old main library building. It would combine art and science into one facility geared toward adults and older children. The bond would pay for seismic upgrades and other construction costs. The Leonardo would be responsible for raising an additional $10 million to complete the project. Planners say The Leonardo would provide an educational experience currently lacking in the city, but they also acknowledge they plan to build the project even if the bond fails; it would just take a little longer to complete. This one doesn't appear to be an immediate need requiring taxpayer help. Vote no.