Lawmakers meddling in local issues
Dozens of bills affect how cities, towns work
Lawmakers have pushed dozens of bills this session that change the way cities and counties operate. But many of those specifically target certain problems municipalities have had for years.
"The Legislature certainly is taking more interest in local government," said Lincoln Shurtz, legislative analyst for the Utah League of Cities and Towns. "They key point is they are using very specific, localized issues in fashioning state policy."
He attributed legislation dealing with land use to the growth and development pressures across the state. But he said the Legislature is becoming a "quasi-judicial body versus a legislative body."
"Instead of looking prospectively at problems that may exist in the future, what they are doing is reacting to specific examples in local communities and passing statewide policy to address very localized and specific issues, which is concerning."
Bills that municipalities will have to take note of:
• SB30: A legislative task force will further study tools that would allow cities to split from the school districts they are a part of and create their own locally controlled district.
• HB362: Allows unincorporated county islands within city boundaries to annex more easily, without forcing the entire island to annex.
• HB140: Requires a legislative body that has authority over a city with fewer than 5,000 water connections to vote whether or not they want to add fluoride to the water.
• HB365: Authorizes eminent domain of a blighted property if the property owner consents or surrounding property owners petition.
• HB119: Allows a city to increase fees on a public assembly facility such as the E Center in West Valley or South Towne Expo Center in Sandy from $1 to $5. Had yet to be debated in the Senate late Wednesday.
In the end, Shurtz said he felt local governments were a winner this session, although he felt more decisions were made behind closed doors.
"As a whole we did well. It was a controversial session. It seemed like there was a lot more scrutiny on local government," he said.
Contributing: Leigh Dethman
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