Tax might go toward transit — statewide

Key state legislators are close to a deal that could provide a quarter-cent, sales-tax hike for new roads, light rail and airports statewide — not just transit projects in Salt Lake County.

On Thursday, a group of lawmakers — including at least one Democratic leader — met first among themselves and then with city and county officials, Utah Transit Authority members and other interested parties to flesh out a broader transportation plan.

They're pushing for a proposal that could pass in a Sept. 19 special legislative session Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. is expected to call, to give Utahns a $70 million cut in income taxes and establish a flat-rate tax option already endorsed by a majority of lawmakers.

The governor has said he also wants to put a sales-tax increase for transit projects in Salt Lake County on the special-session agenda, but that's been a tougher sell to lawmakers. So now he, too, is interested in alternatives.

"Gov. Huntsman likes the direction where the transportation discussion is headed," his spokesman, Mike Mower, said Thursday, adding the governor "is willing to consider making this transportation funding tool available to other counties throughout the state."

Mower said that "different areas in the state have different transportation needs. For some, it is providing funding for commuter rail or light rail. For others, it is acquiring needed funding for future highway corridor acquisition, local roads or airports."

The new proposal may well appease GOP senators, who refused in caucus Tuesday to vote on the Salt Lake County transit-tax increase. Senate President John Valentine, R-Orem, said a chief concern was that other transportation needs in the state weren't being considered.

Valentine said if the new proposal "is flexible enough to recognize all the infrastructure needs in the state, I think it will have more support" than just accommodating Salt Lake County.

House Republicans were already sold on the Salt Lake County plan. In a closed caucus, GOP House members were favorable to letting the county raise its local option sales tax by a quarter cent, the money going to pay off a nearly $900 million bond that would build four light-rail extensions and construct a north-south commuter-rail line.

Now, with some legislators saying the various transportation needs across the state should also have the option of a sales-tax hike, both Senate and House members are looking at expanding the original proposal.