West Jordan ponders property-tax hike for roads

WEST JORDAN — It's been 20 years since West Jordan last raised its residents' property taxes, but this year could be different.

City leaders are considering a two-step approach to repairing existing road problems and building new roads in a hurry, but it won't be cheap. The plan is to potentially raise taxes this year to pay for the repairs. Residents would also vote in a special November election on whether they support incurring a $40 million to $50 million general obligation bond to build the new roads.

By dividing the projects up, council members say they hope they can have more comfort in knowing that a future council couldn't reassign the taxes they raised to something other than roads. General obligation bond money can only be used for specific projects that must be approved by a majority vote in a municipal election.

"It all has to be done eventually, anyway," Councilwoman Melissa Johnson said at a recent council work session. "You're voting on whether you want to accelerate the time line. If a majority of the voters say, 'No, don't do it,' then we don't do it. If they'd rather spend 20 minutes extra in their commute to save $200 a year, it's a trade-off."

City leaders aren't sure yet exactly how much they would have to raise taxes to pay for the road repairs. Before the council can decide to raise taxes, the city must first determine exactly how much the increase will be and inform residents how much more they'll have to pay. The city must then have a truth in taxation hearing where residents can voice their opinions.

The severity of this winter hasn't helped the city's plight with road repair any, says assistant city manager Tom Steele.

"We've got potholes popping up all over the place," Steele said. "It's straining our budgets. ... (The council) is saying, it's probably time to put more money into fixing roads rather than just putting band-aids on them. It's been building for a couple of years to the point that whoever is leading the charge said, 'Doggone it, it's time."'

If the city places a general obligation bond on the ballot in November, residents will vote on whether they support building two new roads: one continuing 5600 West from 6400 South to about 9000 South and another connecting 7800 South from 4000 West to state Route 111.

The goal is to take care of the city's major road issues within the next four years, before the council sees too much turnover.

"I think we need to bite the bullet," said Mayor Dave Newton. "But, I don't want to bite the bullet and come back in two years and say, we have another bullet to bite."

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