Senate OKs bill to create restaurant-tax review board

The Senate approved a bill Wednesday that would create a special advisory board in Salt Lake County to review how restaurant tax revenue is distributed within the county.

The measure, SB64, passed the Senate 23-2. Senators had voted down the measure earlier in the day over concerns that it might harm Salt Lake County, but the measure was brought back for debate after the sponsor assured senators it was innocuous.

The bill was amended from an earlier form, which diverted about $15 million in restaurant tax revenues from Salt Lake County to individual cities within the county. After a couple weeks of negotiations among the county and cities, the agreement to create an advisory board was reached.

"The cities have said, 'yes, this meets our needs.' The county has said 'this meets our needs.' Both are happy with the bill," sponsor Michael Waddoups, R-West Jordan, said during debate.

SB64 now moves to the House Rules Committee.