Pair defend placing tax option on ballot

PROVO — Two Utah County commissioners defended Friday their decision to place a quarter-cent sales tax option on the November ballot.

Commissioners Jerry Grover and Steve White voted to place the tax-hike proposal on the ballot. Commissioner Gary Herbert voted against it.

Other Utah Valley officials criticized Grover and White for their votes. If passed, the tax hike would pay for 27 Utah Valley road projects.

But the November presidential election could draw as many as 75 percent of the registered voters. Next year, elections may draw 9 percent to 13 percent of the voters, Grover and White said in a statement issued Friday afternoon.

A proposed tax increase to pay for commuter rail will be on the ballot next year. And they said they don't want the quarter-cent sales tax increase proposal to compete against that tax hike proposal.

In addition, the two commissioners don't agree with a UDOT plan to add a fourth lane to I-15 without also reconstructing the interchanges and overpasses, except for Lindon-Pleasant Grove, University Parkway and University Avenue.

Once voters have their say, county commissioners will get another chance to decide whether to impose the sales tax.