The Summit County Council received little feedback on a $99 million transportation bond this week, with only one resident advocating for proper planning measures to prevent the funds from contributing to infrastructure for Dakota Pacific Real Estate’s future development in Kimball Junction. Ni cholas Schapper was the lone speaker during Wednesday’s public hearing. He said he wasn’t necessarily opposed to the bond, which is slated to fund almost $100 million of transportation improvements in the Snyderville Basin, but he was nervous about what he perceived as a lack of guardrails on how the money will be used. “It doesn’t solve the main problems going in and out of Park City because that’s a (Utah Department of Transportation) problem,” Schapper said. “To me, this is another way of facilitating Dakota Pacific. It’s a facilitation of the problems they’re going to create when they do their development. … Are we helping them or are we helping the citizens?” Schapper additionally said he understood the push for better infrastructure in Kimball Junction before the 2034 Winter Games, but he urged the County Council to plan improvements based on the needs of residents. “I’ve been to almost every Olympics since Lillehammer, and it’s 16 days,” he said. “Do not get caught up in 16 days. That time will pass. We’ll be left with what happens before the Olympics and what happens after, so please look through the lens of that.” County Council Chair Tonja Hanson said she agreed with Schapper’s statement. Hanson said last month that she viewed the bond as providing better infrastructure to Snyderville Basin residents as a whole rather than preparing for the Games. County Manager Shayne Scott, who proposed the bond in October, first pitched the idea as future planning for the 2034 Winter Olympics. The County Council in November discussed and authorized the bond measure alongside a new sales tax based on Scott’s recommendation. Technically, the bond has already been approved, but the public hearing was legally required for the county to actually issue the bonds and receive funding. The bond will pay for desired transportation improvements, while the revenue generated by the new tax will go toward paying off the county’s resulting debt over 21 years. The state Legislature in 2015 established the Impacted Communities Taxes Act to provide funding to resort municipalities facing increased rates of infrastructure degradation because of substantial tourism. Summit County staff for years advocated to amend the law to allow the tax to be implemented at the county level as well — a request state lawmakers granted earlier this year. “I’ve been in favor and been trying to get this kind of tax for the whole time, some 17 years, that I’ve been in office,” said County Councilor Chris Robinson. “Jurisdictions around us have the same tax, in Park City Municipal. I think this is a good way to raise revenue without putting a burden on the local taxpayer.” The updated statute allowed the County Council to create a tax of up to 1.1% on sales in unincorporated Summit County, with the revenue specifically earmarked for transportation infrastructure, transportation infrastructure improvements and transit projects. The tax did not require voter approval. Summit County staff predicted the new tax will generate approximately $17 million annually, and Scott said he expects it to go into effect in mid-February. The tax only affects specific purchases, similar to the emergency services sales tax that voters passed last year. Exemptions include “unprepared” foods, prescription medications, gasoline and automobile sales. Once the tax is in effect, Summit County’s overall sales tax rate will be around 8.75%, compared to 9.55% in Park City proper, 8.25% in Salt Lake City and 7.55% in Heber City. Aspen and Vail, Colorado, often considered competition for Park City’s ski resorts, also have higher sales tax rates than unincorporated Summit County — around 9.3% and 9.4%, respectively. Park City is currently the only municipality in Summit County utilizing the Impacted Communities Taxes Act. Cities must have a transient room capacity greater than or equal to 66% of the municipality’s permanent population to be eligible for the tax under state code. Municipalities are also allowed to tax at a higher rate than counties, and Park City specifically has a tax rate of 1.6% on qualifying purchases. The post Summit County receives little feedback on $99 million transportation bond appeared first on Park Record. ...read more read less