From Deseret News archives:
Road-$$ allocation process stalls
On Tuesday, state lawmakers declined to approve a process for selecting the transportation projects, instead asking that local leaders come back with more details about how the projects will be picked.
That means residents will have to wait, at a minimum, until the end of December to know where exactly their tax dollars will go. Members of the Legislature's Executive Appropriations Committee won't meet again until mid-December. By law, the committee is required to approve the process for picking projects that will be funded by the sales-tax hike.
The delay wasn't meant to frustrate or hinder local leaders, said Sen. Curt Bramble, R-Provo. Rather, lawmakers just wanted more information.
"We're not trying to shut this down at all," Bramble told West Valley Mayor Dennis Nordfelt after the committee's meeting Tuesday. "I think what we're looking for is a very detailed manual, if you will."
Nordfelt and Draper Mayor Darryl Smith gave a 20-minute presentation to committee members about the process for picking projects. The municipal leaders did not have specific, written details about the selection process but rather were prepared to speak about the details.
County mayors and members of the Salt Lake County Council will use the process to select projects for funding. Projects that could get funding include four new TRAX lines, commuter rail and road improvements.
While most of the GOP members of the appropriations committee voted to postpone a hearing on the process until further written details were given, Democrats on the committee asked that Nordfelt and Smith continue their presentation.
"I'm interested in having this discussion today," Senate Minority Leader Ralph Becker, D-Salt Lake City, said to members of the committee. "We have a lot of people who have spent a lot of time on this. We've delayed this once. I'd like to be able to hear the remainder of the discussion."
Nordfelt said after the meeting that he had expected lawmakers to approve the process but that mayors would be ready for the next meeting with a clear, written explanation of the process.
Mike Allegra, chief capital development officer for the Utah Transit Authority, said that the delay by lawmakers would not impact work on the four new TRAX lines and commuter rail in Salt Lake County. UTA is prepared to begin construction on the transit lines next year but is counting on funding from the tax hike to pay for construction.
E-mail: nwarburton@desnews.com
