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SALT LAKE CITY — Mayor Ralph Becker reiterated Monday that he opposes a new prison being built in Salt Lake City, despite claims from critics that the relocation would open the door for a tax increase he has long sought.
Two of those critics are hoping to unseat Becker.
Jackie Biskupski, former state legislator and Salt Lake mayoral candidate, spoke at a news conference Monday claiming Becker is working a “back room” deal with legislators to push an “agenda” for a sales tax increase through the prison relocation.
She said Becker's long-time ambition to raise Salt Lake City's sales tax to help shoulder the burden of the city’s commuters and tourists could be made possible through a deal with legislators that was crafted under a provision that was introduced in a prison relocation bill, HB454, a day before the legislative session ended Thursday.
But Becker released a statement saying that while it’s true that his administration has advocated for the Legislature to create a sales tax as a means to help “reduce the unfair burden shouldered by Salt Lake City taxpayers” and create a way for tourist and commuters to contribute to the city’s resources, his position against relocating the prison to Salt Lake City “has and continues to be ‘no.’”
“While I wish Salt Lake City had the power to control the decision of the Legislature and governor on this issue, we don’t,” Becker said. “If it were up to us, the prison would remain in its current Draper location.”
The option for whichever city that ends up with the new prison to increase its sales tax up to 0.5 percent was added to the bill that mandated it would be up to the full Utah Legislature and Gov. Gary Herbert to ultimately decide where the new prison will be built.
The tax would not apply to expensive items like cars, mobile homes and aircraft.
Biskupski called upon Utahns to ask Herbert to veto HB454, whether they live in Salt Lake City or not, but especially if they live in a community that is being considered as a potential prison site.
“Coupling a sales tax no one wants with a prison relocation no one wants is deplorable,” Biskupski said.
Sen. Jim Dabakis, D-Salt Lake City, also spoke at the news conference and said the tax was “snuck” into the bill before the session ended at midnight as a way that seemed like a way for the state to make the prison relocation more appealing to Salt Lake City.
Ultimately, the prison relocation debate highlights a dysfunctional relationship between Salt Lake City and the Legislature. While the Utah State Legislature rails against the federal government, they certainly don't appreciate Utah cities and towns deciding what's in our own best interest.
–Salt Lake City Council Chairman Luke Garrott
“It looks like the state is saying, ‘Salt Lake, we want the prison to go to you, and in exchange you can raise the taxes of the people that are getting the prison that they don’t want,’” Dabakis said. “That’s not a good process, it’s not a good result, and it’s not where we ought to be.”
Matt Lyon, interim campaign manager for Becker, called Biskupski’s claims “unfounded and far-reaching attacks” against Becker.
“(Biskupski’s) remarks are clearly politics over policy,” Lyon said in a prepared statement. “Mayor Becker’s opposition to and action on the prison relocation is well documented. There is also a long and detailed history surrounding the impacts of non-city residents on Salt Lake and ways the city can share those expenses among all users of the city, not just those who live in the city.”
Salt Lake City Council Chairman Luke Garrott, another mayoral challenger, also issued a statement Monday that criticized Becker for a “zealous pursuit of this sales tax” that he says shows a “serious disconnect” with Salt Lake City residents, since the city is “headed toward a crisis in affordability.”
Additionally, Garrott criticized the potential sales tax increase added into HB454.
“Ultimately, the prison relocation debate highlights a dysfunctional relationship between Salt Lake City and the Legislature,” Garrott said. “While the Utah State Legislature rails against the federal government, they certainly don’t appreciate Utah cities and towns deciding what’s in our own best interest."
Sen. Jerry Stevenson, R-Layton, Prison Relocation Committee co-chairman and Senate sponsor of HB454, challenged Dabakis’ claims that the tax increase option and the prison relocation were “coupled together in secrecy.” Stevenson said he brought the bill with the tax provision to Republican and Democratic caucus meetings the last afternoon of the session, and no one raised concerns.
The bill passed the Senate 19-10 and the House 59-14 and now awaits Herbert’s consideration. It would give the Prison Relocation Commission until Aug. 1 to pick a site for the new prison.
Stevenson said the governor has indicated he would be willing to call lawmakers into special session to select the site once the commission is ready with a recommendation, which will likely be in June.
So far, the commission is studying five potential sites: two near Eagle Mountain, one near Tooele, one near Grantsville, and one site west of the Salt Lake City International Airport. The potential sites have been received with significant community resistance.
Stevenson said the sales tax provision was added to help the city that ends up with the new prison, and it would be up to the city's council to choose whether or not to enact the tax.
“I don’t know that we’re going to find any place that people are going to welcome this with open arms,” Stevenson said. “This is just one of the things we decided to put in to help — maybe it makes (the prison relocation) a little more palatable.”
Stevenson said the Legislature’s decision on the new prison’s site would have to pass by a two-thirds vote.
Katie McKellar is a Dixie State University graduate with a bachelor of science in mass communication. Before interning at Deseret News, she reported and edited news content for Dixie Sun News, first as Photo Editor, then as Features Editor. Email: kmckellar@deseretnews.com
