Put transit bond on the ballot
The owner of a $200,000 house, which qualifies as a small starter home in today's market, would see a property tax hike of about $95 a year if the bond, estimated at nearly $900 million, passes. That's considerable. It may be more palatable to raise the money through sales taxes, which would take legislative approval. But the Utah Transit Authority deserves at least a chance to make the argument for such a thing, and the people of the many communities that would benefit deserve a say, as well.
It's worth remembering that a Deseret Morning News/KSL-TV poll earlier this year found that 61 percent of respondents said they would support a property tax hike for TRAX lines to Draper, West Valley City, the Salt Lake City International Airport and South Jordan. The same poll found that 92 percent want the TRAX bond on the ballot this fall.
With the exception of open space preservation, none of these are as important as the need for expanded transit.
County leaders cannot ignore the fact that Utahns already bear the fourth largest state and local tax burden in the nation, according to a recent survey by the Utah Taxpayers Association. As we said in an earlier editorial, a heavy tax burden can hurt economic development. However, a strong transportation system that includes light and heavy rail, as well as an efficient highway network, would be a huge boon to economic development, as well as to the efficient flow of commerce.
This is especially important as the nation deals with rising fuel costs. At the very least, the county needs to let voters make their own decision on this matter.
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