$507 million Public Safety Bond heads to November ballot

SALT LAKE CITY — In a bipartisan 8-1 vote, the Salt Lake County Council moved to add the Public Safety Bond to November’s ballot. The Public Safety Bond is a part of Salt Lake County’s plan, headed by Mayor Jenny Wilson, to tackle homelessness. 

“What we’re asking the public to approve is a revolutionary change to break the cycle of criminality and homelessness and put people on the path to self-reliance,” said Salt Lake County Mayor Jenny Wilson in a press release. “This bond is a key part of our plan to make homelessness brief, rare, and non-recurring.”

Listen to KSL at Night’s interview with Council Chair Laurie Stringham. 👇

 

The bond proposal was endorsed by both Gov. Spencer Cox and Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall. 

The bond will invest $507 million dollars into two main efforts:

1. Building a Justice and Accountability Center
2. Combining the two county jails.

A press release explains that the Justice and Accountability Center will provide support for unhoused people and repeat criminal offenders. The Center will connect people to outpatient treatment, job training, employment services and housing opportunities. 

The goal in combining the two county jails is to increase the number of beds, along with expanding mental health resources.

Salt Lake County Sheriff Rosie Rivera called the Salt Lake County jail the “largest mental health provider in the state.”

“This bond will improve mental health treatment, provide a better path to success for those involved in the criminal justice system, address homelessness, and reduce crime, ” she said. 

The approval of the bond will be up to the public in the November 2024 general election. 

Related: Salt Lake County Council supports Rio Grande Plan