I am fortunate to be included in events hosted by political leaders from both parties. The nice thing about these smaller, more intimate gatherings is that you usually get to face elected officials like a prize fighter with their guard down.

One thing I am hearing loud and clear from our state officials is the need for more affordable housing. At first blush, that sounds great and appears to be in full alignment with our local officials. This should be welcome news to the people of Summit County. There is alignment behind the common and critical need for more affordable housing. Let’s do this!

Nationwide, the cost of home ownership has dramatically outpaced the rate of inflation. According to the U.S. Department of the Treasury, in just the first quarter of this young century, the cost of home ownership has increased by about 65 percent more than inflation.

Worse yet, inflation-adjusted wages have barely moved. The ratio of median home prices to median household income was roughly 4 in 2000 and had risen to 5.3 by 2023. Over the past 10 years, home prices have risen at double the rate of inflation, and inflation itself was 31%. Thirty-one friggin’ percent!

Some will say it has always been that way, and they would be right. From 1965 to 2021, home prices saw a 118 percent inflation-adjusted increase, while incomes grew only 15 percent.

To say homevownership is on an unsustainable trajectory is an understatement. There are many contributing factors: complicated zoning, local regulations, permit delays, inspection costs, high construction costs, excessive bonding requirements, and asset inflation driven by demand for mortgage-backed securities.

Everyone agrees there is a housing crisis. But like most issues, our local and state leaders are not in alignment on how to solve it. Shocking, right?

I am hearing from state leadership that the issue is simply supply. They want locals to build more. From their perspective, local leaders are stuck with their “not in my backyard” attitudes. State leaders argue that most counties have tons of undeveloped land that should be freed up for housing.

Here in Summit County, one of our most cherished resources is our open space. Heck, we will go down fighting over 51 acres of weed-infested fields already entitled and adjacent to existing commercial development.

But our governor and the Legislature have different plans. They want to pass laws and initiatives that promote more housing, often in stark opposition to the voters and local officials in the counties affected.

There is a lot of truth in the phrase, “You can’t fight City Hall.” But if you want a real heavyweight fight, try going a dozen rounds with the Legislature.

Local control and less intrusive government are rallying cries for our friends at the Statehouse. So why are they so ready to shove policies and laws down our throats to implement their solution to the housing crisis, build more?

The answer is simple. Money.

Builders in Utah get over 10 percent more revenue for residential construction than for office space, and 34 percent more than industrial. In Summit County, where housing prices exceed $600 per square foot, the difference in revenue between residential and office construction is nearly 75 percent.

Bottom line: Developers make more money when they build homes.

If we want to enter the ring and go toe to toe with the champ, we need to hit them where it counts: their wallet.

In Utah, the outdoor recreation economy brings in $9.5 billion, accounting for 3.4 percent of the state’s GDP. Broader tourism-driven output is a whopping $23.38 billion, or about 7.8 percent of GDP. Even more important, 1 in 10 jobs in Utah is tied to travel and tourism.

And I know from experience, tourists do not flock to residential neighborhoods to look at rooftops. They come here to experience wide-open spaces and breathtaking landscapes.

Converting open space in tourism-dependent counties like Summit, Grand, Kane and Washington will not just harm the environment. It will threaten billions of dollars in revenue and over 70,000 jobs.

We should join with other destination counties and urge state leaders to designate sensitive regions like Summit County as tourism zones, protecting them from development that undermines our economy and employment base. By speaking their language, dollars, we can stop the fight in round one and push for a solution that benefits everyone.

Ari Ioannides, chair of the Summit County Republicans, is a recovering tech entrepreneur, founder of BootUP PD, and serves on local government and nonprofit boards. He offers a conservative perspective on local politics. He can be reached at [email protected]