Corroon, Cook offer plans for Salt Lake County

Economic growth "for everyone, not just a select few," is at the heart of an eight-step plan Democrat Peter Corroon said he would implement should he be elected county mayor, and independent candidate Merrill Cook released a few of his own ideas as well.

"We need a sustained effort — with the right focus — to turn things around," Corroon said at a news conference he called Wednesday.

Both Corroon and Cook have been critical of Republican incumbent Mayor Nancy Workman for, Corroon says, fostering a "culture of entitlement" in the mayor's office and elsewhere in the county with large salaries, fancy cars and the like.

The first thing Corroon said he would do is cut the budget in the mayor's office by at least 30 percent, eliminating up to six positions (out of 20) and their related expenses.

He said he would also empower local businesses, particularly small businesses, by reducing paperwork and bureaucracy.

Corroon is president of the Vest Pocket Coalition, a local small business association. To underscore his message, Corroon made his announcement at Murray-based Little Dogs Resort & Salon, a locally owned canine kenneling and grooming business.

Corroon would coordinate economic development efforts countywide, work to change sales tax structure so that cities aren't competing for malls and "big box" businesses, attract convention and tourist business and increase funding in a revolving business loan fund by $1 million.

He would also continue a hiring freeze put in place by Workman.

Corroon conceded that some elements in his plan overlap Workman's own economic plan, which she announced in March.

"Her plan is a good step," he said, "(but) it's been too long in coming."

Workman's plan emphasizes coordinating economic development efforts, keeping businesses in the state and helping them grow, and leveraging the Salt Palace Convention Center and other county "currencies" for economic growth.

"We love his plan, because it's our plan," Workman's campaign manager Chris Bleak said. "I'm not sure if there's anything in his plan that's unique, (and) we have far more specific recommendations than he does."

Corroon said he would fight to keep taxes low, but stopped short of a guarantee not to raise them. "My goal would be to never raise taxes, but I won't be one of those foolhardy souls who say we never will."

Workman has long trumpeted the fact that she has never raised taxes, and that in fact she cut a tax hike put in place by outgoing county commissioners when she first took office.

The county's budget has grown substantially under Workman's watch — something Corroon and Cook have criticized — though that has been due to population growth, issuance of bonds and other factors.