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Eliminating government waste is the mantra of virtually every politician running for public office in Utah. May we suggest a place to look!
Parking stalls!
According to a recent KSL 5 News investigation, the state spends at least $370,000 annually for employees to park. That's taxpayer money. Curiously, hundreds of parking stalls leased by the state sit empty. They're rarely, if ever used.
For example, 62-percent of 113 stalls leased by the state at 256 East 300 South are not used. Another state-leased lot in Salt Lake City, where state employees could park for free, sits partially empty because state employees prefer paying for covered parking in a nearby garage. Then there's the lot adjoining 3760 South Highland Drive that costs the state more than $64,000 annually . . . and practically no one parks there.
State officials use a variety of explanations to justify the leases and how they do business, but we have to wonder if that's the way those in private sector who are concerned about the bottom line would do business.
Obviously, for politicians and bureaucrats who take enormous pride in accolades calling Utah the best managed state in the nation, there is room for improvement. Unused parking stalls are a place to start.
