Davis voters may decide fate of plan to boost sales tax ¼%
The one-fourth-of-a-penny increase is expected to yield $8 million to $10 million in revenue, one-fourth of that to be used for securing land for building future roads, a concept known as corridor preservation.
In January, the Davis County Council of Governments voted to urge commissioners to put the sales tax question on November's ballot and to increase the fee for vehicle registrations.
In March, the Davis County Board of Commissioners voted to increase the fee for vehicle registrations in Davis County by $10, all of which must be used for corridor preservation.
Estimates peg the cost of corridor preservation in Davis County to be more than $438 million in today's dollars.
State law allows county commissioners to put the sales tax increase to a vote. Salt Lake County voters approved the same tax increase in November by a 2-1 margin.
"From the information I have received, personally, I see no reason to not put it out to the public and let them be educated on it," said Davis Commissioner Alan Hansen. "This is going to go for transportation needs."
"Gridlock is a concern," Downs said. "Safety is a concern."
A better transportation system can help the welfare of county residents and stimulate economic growth, she said.
No prioritized list of projects in Davis County exists, though the Wasatch Front Regional Council, which recently adopted a regional transportation plan, has an idea of where the needs are.
According to the council's Web site, various roads need work: 2000 West from Syracuse to Clinton, 1800 North from Sunset to West Point, 500 South in Woods Cross, Antelope Drive and a future extension of the Legacy Parkway from Farmington along western Davis County to the Weber County border.
If commissioners place the tax increase on the ballot and it passes in November, the Davis County Council of Governments, an advisory committee made up of the county's 15 mayors and the three commissioners, will create a prioritized list of projects, Hansen said.
Chuck Chappell, executive director of the Wasatch Front Regional Council, said he would encourage commissioners to get the tax on the ballot.
"I think there's a real shortage of funds for transportation, transit and highways," Chappell said.
E-mail: jdougherty@desnews.com
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