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Chalk up a significant victory for people power in Utah!
Despite severe obstacles, Utahns for Clean Water, Clean Air & Quality Growth have succeeded in getting their laudable open-space initiative on the ballot in November.
They overcame an onerous initiative process, won a victory at the State Supreme Court, and survived a nail-biting recount in order to give Utah voters the opportunity to do something truly important for future generations.
Another million people are expected in Utah by the year 2020. With them will come more development, traffic and pressure on the area’s natural resources! Passage of the initiative would authorize a $150 million sales tax revenue bond. The money would be used to protect critical land around rivers, lakes and streams as well as key family farms and ranches. For a one-cent investment on every twenty-dollar purchase made by taxpayers over a decade, the state would have money to establish trails, greenways and outdoor recreational facilities, along with city, county and state parks.
The legislature, unfortunately, failed to enact a similar measure earlier this year. Now, lawmakers are being bypassed and the people, directly, will have a say. KSL urges voters to approve the open-space initiative in November, and in the process score another victory for the power of the people.
