With people trying to cope in a recession, those pushing for passage of an open-space bond hope by lowering the amount of the proposal they will convince voters to support the ballot measure in November.
In 2004, voters in the Snyderville Basin approved a $10 million open-space bond. But the economy has experienced a downturn since then.
Basin residents will get the opportunity to vote on a $20 million open-space bond on Nov. 2. The Summit County Council decided Wednesday to place the bond on this year’s ballot.
The Snyderville Basin Special Recreation District would float the bond and only those within the district, generally people living on the West Side of Summit County but outside the Park City limits, will vote and be taxed if the measure is approved. Those who own average priced homes valued at roughly $652,000 would see their property taxes increase about $69 per year.
Many leaders in Summit County say they support the bond initiative. But some residents say they will not back the measure.
“My concern is that at this time tax burdens are going to be going up for everybody,” Summit County resident Jan Vola told the Summit County Council. “You have to take into account that there are a lot of problems for a lot of people.”
But Summit County resident Chris Donaldson said he would gladly pay additional taxes for preserving open space. With proceeds from the previous bond, officials purchased hundreds of acres of land at Kimball Junction and along State Road 224.
“This is the kind of tax that I welcome because it affects me every day in terms of quality of life,” Donaldson said.
With the current low costs for land, backers of the measure say now is a good time to reach deals with motivated sellers.
“It is a good time, without a large burden on the taxpayer,” Donaldson said.
Most proceeds from the proposal would be used for purchasing land. Other money could go toward developing trails on the West Side of Summit County. Those projects could include new pathways along East Canyon Creek, Highland Drive and near Interstate 80 in Silver Creek.
Summit County resident Michael Watson said proceeds from the open-space bond should also help fund bicycle lanes on Basin streets.
“Roads are safer for cyclists if there is notice to motorists and other cyclists,” Watson said during Wednesday’s public hearing. “Make a commitment to bike lanes and they will come, the commuters, the recreationists.”
Before Wednesday, officials were considering putting a $25 million bond on this year’s ballot. But there were those who said that $25 million was too much to ask of voters.
“I don’t think it has as good of chance at $25 million as it does at $20 million,” said Claudia McMullin, chairwoman of the Summit County Council.
McMullin said she will support the measure in November.