Last Rocky budget tinted green

In Rocky Anderson's last go at Salt Lake City's budget, he hopes to leave his mark with the creation of a new fund that would bolster energy efficiency in the city.

The Salt Lake mayor, who is not seeking re-election, unveiled his recommended budget for fiscal 2007-08 Tuesday before the City Council. His proposed budget includes the creation of an Energy Fund for the Future, which Anderson says would provide seed money for future green projects in the public and private sectors.

"Budgets reflect our values and priorities as a community," Anderson said.

Attention to environmental issues — especially energy conservation — has been a visible priority during Anderson's seven years in office. In addition to several international trips to advocate for action against global warming, the mayor has created programs in Salt Lake City aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

The Energy Fund for the Future would annually collect 1 percent of the general fund's revenues — nearly $1.9 million this year — for an array of uses, from investing in alternative energy sources and more efficient infrastructure on city property to loans for pro-efficiency upgrades in homes and businesses.

"As Salt Lake City continues to grow and develop, our health and welfare, and that of our children, will continue to be directly tied to our consumption of energy," Anderson told the council.

Anderson's proposed general-fund budget is about $201.7 million, up from about $187 million last year. The overall budget, which includes several separate funds such as capital improvements, the airport, libraries and golf, comes in at just more than $668 million, compared with $599 million last year.

The proposed budget recommends no property-tax increase, although it would raise a number of fees.

Among those increases would be a boost to the parking-services tax, which can be levied on vehicles that pay to park in parking structures at publicly funded facilities. Currently, that tax is 50 cents at the Salt Lake City International Airport. No fee is now charged at the city library's main branch, the Matheson Courthouse, the Salt Palace and the Gallivan Center.

Anderson's office reports that the money brought in by that tax is currently not enough to cover the costs of the parking structures. The budget recommends increasing the tax to $1 at all those garages and lots.