Transport tax has few foes

In the coming days, voters in Salt Lake and Utah counties will be asked whether they support a quarter-cent sales tax hike for transportation.

The money, if approved, will fund road expansion projects and commuter rail in Utah County. In Salt Lake County, it could go to any of a list of 33 projects, including four new TRAX lines and commuter rail.

No group has organized to oppose the tax measures, known as Proposition 3 in Salt Lake County and "Opinion Question" in Utah County. In fact, both have support from a broad mix of business leaders, elected officials and environmental groups.

The question, as election day draws near, is whether voters agree with the message that supporters are pushing — that a vote for these propositions is a vote for improved transportation and quality of life.

"We want them (voters) to know that they have an opportunity to make a generational decision, that what they do in the ballot box on Nov. 7 will determine what transportation infrastructure their children and grandchildren have," said Jim Bennett, who is being paid by the Salt Lake Chamber of Commerce to run a $700,000 campaign in support of the propositions.

"These decisions don't come along very often," he added.

In Salt Lake County, Proposition 3 has received mixed reviews from residents. A survey done by Dan Jones & Associates for the Deseret Morning News and KSL-TV showed that 61 percent of Salt Lake County residents said they could support the tax hike. The survey of 366 county residents was conducted Sept. 25-28. It had a margin of error of 5.1 percent.

Many residents have wondered why the meaure does not identify specific projects. Only a general list of 33 projects has been presented in conjunction with the ballot.

Clay Christensen of South Jordan, said in an earlier interview that it would be easy for elected officials to promise one thing before the election, such as funding for TRAX extensions, then turn around and put the money toward another projects after the election.

A majority of the mayors in Salt Lake County, and also the Salt Lake County Council, have said they want the tax money to go to commuter rail and TRAX. By law, one-quarter of the tax increase must go to buy land for future roads, such as the Mountain View Corridor.

The reason that no particular projects have been identified for the funding is because state lawmakers must approve a process for picking the projects. They have not yet approved that process, in part, because House Speaker Greg Curtis, R-Sandy was in China this month.