Voters like safety complex, poll says

A majority of Salt Lake residents would vote to bond for a new public-safety complex, according to a city poll conducted late last month and released Wednesday.

Fifty-eight percent of voters said they would support the $125 million bond issue, clearing the way for a public-safety headquarters and emergency-operations center downtown, according to the survey by a California polling company.

Of the 32 percent of voters who said they would not support the bond, most said their taxes were already too high and they could not afford to pay more.

The poll of 400 people was conducted June 20-22.

"It does look good (for the city)," said Marla Kennedy, Mayor Ralph Becker's spokeswoman.

In advance of the November vote, Kennedy said the city plans to roll out its "education" effort sometime in August.

Becker has recommended building the complex on the Barnes Bank block, which is bordered by 400 South, 500 South, 300 East and Blair Street.

In the city's survey, that site was the least favorable of three options presented. Voters preferred sites at 350 S. State and 450 S. 400 East.

— Aaron Falk