Answer: I don't have a direct answer to this question. However, I have a fundamental belief that the further away you send your tax dollars the less you get in return. I'd far rather give my tax dollars to the Elk Ridge general fund than to send it to the county in hopes we get something in return.
Update: I've taken the time to read the bill and I've come to the following conclusions (I'm not a lawyer so take this with that understanding):
- If you're going to read the bill then I suggest you do it when you're wide awake because your eyes are going to glaze over before you get done.
- The bill seems to be completely dependent on the definition and implementation of a "Public Transit District" and whether the county has one or not.
- UTA was created as a "Public Transit District" in 1970
- I believe we are part of the UTA district and we have two voting members
- If we are part of the UTA transit district then:
- 40% of the revenue will go to UTA
- 20% of the revenue from the tax goes directly to the county legislative body and I assume that is the county commission. That money will surely go to north county expansion projects.
- 20% of the revenue will go to cities in the county based on the population distribution.
- 20% of the revenue will go to the city where the tax is collected.
By my figures, for every dollar we pay due to this tax Elk Ridge gets back .6% of the 20% specified in paragraph 3.3 above. In other words, an addition $1 of taxation from every man, women, and child in the county (540,000 residents) will result in Elk Ridge receiving $648. Taxing the residence of Elk Ridge $3000 and getting back $648 sounds like a bad deal. UTA and the county commission wins big and Elk Ridge loses big.
I will be voting NO! Keep our tax dollars out of the counties hands.
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