Breaking News:

ELECTIONS, POLITICS, & GOVERNMENT

Gov. Cox shares Christmas wish list in virtual town hall

Dec 13, 2023, 9:01 AM | Updated: May 29, 2024, 12:07 pm

Governor Spencer Cox, (R-UT) held a virtual town hall Tuesday night, discussing budget issues inclu...

Governor Spencer Cox, (R-UT) held a virtual town hall Tuesday night, discussing budget issues including affordable housing, high speed rail, enterprenership. Photo courtesy of KSL News

(R-UT)

SALT LAKE CITY —  Gov. Spencer Cox says his Christmas wish list for Utah includes more affordable housing, one more winter with record snowfall, high-speed rail service connecting Salt Lake City with Boise and Las Vegas, and for everyone to disagree more civilly.

Cox held a virtual town hall on Facebook, X, LinkedIn, and YouTube Tuesday night. Questions were submitted by social media users. They were answered during the roughly 40-minute question-and-answer session.

The need for more starter homes

Cox talked about the $30 million earmarked in his budget proposal for deeply affordable housing.

“We have a housing crisis, not just in Utah but across the country,” said Cox. We’ve been working on deeply affordable housing for several years. The legislature has supported increased funding over the past two years.”

Gov. Cox said “deeply affordable housing” includes housing for households whose incomes are below 30% of the average median income or AMI. In Utah, a four-person household with an income less than $31,000 a year, or $1500 a month, would qualify.

“Sadly right now, there are only about three available units for every 100 households below that income threshold. The good news is many of those below 30% AMI are in households already, but we still need more,” according to Cox.

Cox Wish list: More snow please!

In response to a question about snowfall, the governor said he hopes the state sees another winter like we saw last season.

“I hope it will be another crazy winter like last year, where we literally had record snowfall, the most snow ever recorded in the history of our state. We were lucky not to have more flooding, there was some localized flooding, but overall we came out unscathed,” recalled Cox.

Cox said it is early in the season, however, as of mid-December, northern Utah saw positive progress with above-average snowfall. Southern Utah hasn’t seen much snow so far.  We were in a dry spell at this time last year, ahead of the Beehive State winter wonderland of 2023.

‘We can disagree better’

Other issues discussed Tuesday night included entrepreneurship and the need to encourage start-ups. Earlier this year, Cox appointed Ryan Starks as the new executive director of the Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity. He also named respected businessman Brad Bonham as the department’s first entrepreneur-in-residence, in hopes of building up the state’s reputation as the start-up state.

Gov. Cox has been very outspoken about his own hot-button issue as chairman of the National Governor’s Association, disagreeing better. Tuesday night, he reiterated his push for civility among us all, without compromising our core beliefs.

On the issue of immigration and the crisis at the southern border, Cox said he and fellow governors have formed a working group to come up with common sense solutions to securing our borders.

Related: Gov. Cox releases budget plan to improve homelessness resources in Utah

We want to hear from you.

Have a story idea or tip? Send it to the KSL NewsRadio team here.

Elections, Politics, & Government

Protesters rally outside the Ogden Municipal Building on Saturday, Feb. 15, 2025....

DARBY SPARKS, KSL TV

Anti-Trump protestors speak in small Ogden rally Saturday

At the Ogden Municipal Building downtown, a little over 50 people gathered to protest the current Trump Administration on the building’s front steps.

10 hours ago

A long-shot Democratic proposal to raise taxes on those earning $1 million or more was rejected by ...

DANIEL WOODRUFF, KSL TV

Raise taxes on the rich? Utah lawmakers say no

A long-shot Democratic proposal to raise taxes on those earning $1 million or more was rejected by a Utah Senate committee this week.

2 days ago

Gov. Cox signs union bill into law...

Becky Bruce

Gov. Cox signs union bill into law, despite protests

Gov. Spencer Cox signed HB267, also known as the union bill, which would ban collective bargaining agreements for government employees.

2 days ago

Attorney General Derek Brown poses for a portrait at his campaign office in Salt Lake City on Monda...

Heather Peterson

Utah’s AG addresses concerns about lawsuit that could change Section 504 accommodations

Utah is one of 17 states taking part in a lawsuit looking to change or strike down Section 504.

2 days ago

Image of new single family homes under construction in the South Jordan area of the Salt Lake Valle...

Simone Seikaly

Lawmaker looks toward Utah Inland Port, other development, to ease Utah housing crunch

Utah Senate Majority Leader Kirk Cullimore looks to the Utah Inland Port for answers to Utah's housing issues.

2 days ago

Multiple groups are saying the federal employee layoffs are likely to have impacts on Utah, especia...

Chris Megerian and MIchelle L. Price

Trump administration begins sweeping layoffs with probationary workers, warns of larger cuts to come

The Trump administration intensified its efforts to shrink the size of the federal workforce by ordering agencies to lay off nearly all probationary employees.

2 days ago

Sponsored Articles

Filing taxes online using a computer...

The Law Offices of Jordan F. Wilcox

Tax time is approaching. What to do if you have debilitating IRS debt

Is the IRS threatening you with wage garnishment, asset seizure or business closure? Here are some ideas to resolve your tax dilemma.

Full speed through the snow. A man on skis is pulled by his through the snow at full gallop Skijori...

Bear Lake Convention and Visitors Bureau

Get ready for an unforgettable skijoring adventure in Bear Lake!

“Skijoring the Bear” takes place this year on February 21-22 in Garden City, Utah.

the bedroom in a geodesic dome shows the night sky...

Clear Sky Resorts Bryce Canyon

Your front row to an extraordinary cosmos show

As America's first glass dome stargazing resort, Clear Sky Resorts Bryce Canyon is one of the world’s most unique and spectacular places to stay.

2 people huddled up in a blanket and warm clothes sipping hot chocolate...

Bear Lake Convention & Visitors Bureau

The best ways to spend your Christmas vacation in Bear Lake

If you're dreaming of a white Christmas this year, Bear Lake should definitely be on your radar. Read this guide for more!

big crowd of people under holiday lights in an outdoor market...

Western Nut

Our favorite family Christmas activities in Utah

We gathered up a list of our favorite activities, movies, and treats to try this holiday season that the whole family can enjoy.

an IT tech looks at a laptop in front of a server network...

Comcast Business

Tips to protect yourself from phishing attacks

Check out this resource from Comcast Business to learn more about phishing attacks and how to protect yourself from becoming a victim of one.

Gov. Cox shares Christmas wish list in virtual town hall