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| First Up: Salt Lake County's 2027 Budget |
|  | What’s in the works at the Salt Lake County Government Center? (Ivana Martinez/City Cast Salt Lake) |
| Salt Lake County Mayor Jenny Wilson presented her 2027 budget proposal to the county council yesterday. The most important thing we learned from her speech: Despite characterizing it as a "restrained" funding year, big investments in the county's criminal justice system are coming. | - Wilson recommends a $575 million bond to "modernize" the jail system by knocking down the Oxbow facility and building out the Metro Jail. The plan calls for adding beds and building a new center for people awaiting treatment.
- A 13.53% property tax increase would pay off the bond over the next 25 years and add $70.25 annually to the average homeowner's bill.
- History is repeating itself because voters already shot down a $507 million jail bond in 2024. The catch here is the public doesn't get to vote on this one — only the county council needs to sign off. And double deja vu: Salt Lake County increased property taxes by 14% this past year, too — on top of a 12.5% tax increase here in Salt Lake City. [Utah News Dispatch, ABC4, KSL]
- Besides the jail revamp, some money will go toward salary boosts for employees and law enforcement, expanding the county's Meals On Wheels program for older adults, and technology upgrades. In her speech, Wilson said millions of dollars in funding requests were denied.
- Remember, this is what's proposed. The county council gets final approval. If you want to get involved, you can attend their budget hearings on Tuesdays. A truth-in-taxation hearing is also scheduled for Dec. 8. [Salt Lake County]
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| What Salt Lake's Talking About |
| More Snow Is Coming | Grab your rain boots: Showers will hit Utah this week, and a late-week storm on Thursday and Friday could drop 3 to 6 inches of snow in the mountains above 8,000 feet. [KUTV] | | Fly Straight to Moab | Delta and SkyWest are adding four new nonstop routes from Salt Lake City, including service to Moab and Flagstaff, Arizona. The airlines are also expanding service to Santa Rosa and Monterey, California. [TownLift] | | Trader Joe’s Opening in West Jordan | Trader Joe’s is opening its 10th Utah location this Friday, Oct. 23 at 9 a.m. in West Jordan. It’s the grocery chain’s second new westside store in less than two weeks, following Herriman’s recent opening. Another location is planned for South Jordan. [Salt Lake Tribune] | | Suspicious Letter Targets Lt. Governor | A suspicious letter containing white powder was intercepted on its way to Utah Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson, who oversees the state’s elections. With Election Day approaching, we discuss the growing threats facing election officials. [City Cast Salt Lake 🎧] |
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| — Terina Ria | Emily Means wrote today’s “First Up.” |
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