TRAX, open space, stadium on ballot?

Salt Lake County Council members have many proposals they want voters to consider, from expanding TRAX to preserving open space. But the council doesn't want people to be overwhelmed with this fall's ballot.

The council is currently sorting through a laundry list of wants and needs before ultimately deciding what should go for voters' consideration.

"How much can we really put before the voters?" Council Chairman Cort Ashton said. "I think there is a little question of how much is too much."

Ashton wants a $20 million bond to preserve open space. He said an increase of $5.60 per year in property taxes on the average home is worth the price of building parks and creating trails, which will "make this a better place to live in the future."

Councilman Joe Hatch wants an $875 million bond to extend TRAX throughout the Salt Lake Valley. The bond would require an average annual property-tax hike of $95 per household to pay for the new lines, which will stretch to the airport, South Jordan, West Valley and Draper.

Mayor Peter Corroon supports a $60 million bond to accelerate construction of recreation facilities across the valley, with money from the zoo, arts and parks tax.

The United Fire Authority needs money for new fire stations and wants voters to decide whether to finance them, Ashton said. Then there's the Living Planet Aquarium, which wants a $33.9 million bond to start construction on the project. Aquarium leaders went before the county's debt-review committee Friday to explain the specifics of the proposed funding.

Funding for a soccer stadium for Real Salt Lake also could make the ballot, Ashton said, although most members of the County Council don't want it there. E-mail from rank-and-file county residents overwhelmingly supports giving voters the choice on whether the county should invest public dollars in a stadium, Ashton said. The County Council recently voted down such a move.

At most, three ballot initiatives is enough, Hatch said. "Anything more than that is just silly," he said.

"The gut reaction is vote for everything, but every now and then leaders need to stand up and say, 'I am elected to make decisions and I will take responsibility for the decisions on certain issues.' "

---

E-mail: ldethman@desnews.com