Utah mayors seek to raise transportation taxes

SALT LAKE CITY — Earlier this year, Utah lawmakers boldly went where Congress won’t and raised their state gas tax. Now, a collection of Wasatch Front mayors is rallying around a similar proposal, requesting that the Salt Lake County Council add a sales tax increase for transportation projects to the November ballot, according to Next City.

“Local municipalities get most of our B and C road funds from the gas tax,” said Troy Walker, mayor of Draper, referring to the classification system, used throughout Utah for county and municipal roads. “That amount of money is not enough for each city to maintain its share,” according to the report.

Fifteen of the 16 cities in Salt Lake County have passed resolutions that support placing a vote on this year’s ballot according to the Salt Lake Tribune. The county council will decide in August whether to grant the mayors’ request per a new house bill, HB 362, signed into law on March 27th, Next City reported. For the full story, click here.