Salt Lake County Council approves sales tax increase
Feb 18, 2025, 4:05 PM | Updated: Feb 19, 2025, 9:09 am
FILE: Salt Lake City-County Building. Photo credit: Getty Images
SALT LAKE CITY — The Salt Lake County Council voted on Tuesday to pass an ordinance that would increase sales tax in the county.
It would impose a 0.2% retail sales tax increase, which amounts to a penny for every $5. However, the tax would not apply to groceries.
The revenue from the tax will go toward transportation and public safety projects. The big project the council has been trying to urgently raise money for is the expansion of the Oxbow jail.
Salt Lake County Sheriff Rosie Rivera had previously told the council they do not have enough beds to meet the current needs. In response, the council has earmarked $6.4 million to be spent on operating an additional 184 beds at the Oxbow jail.
“We can have plans for the future for expansion, but we need to do something now,” Rivera said
The vote passed seven to two. But even among the yes votes, many of the councilmembers expressed that they wished there had been another way to get the money needed for these projects.
“The jail is extensive. I mean it’s about 75% of our general fund,” said Councilmember Dea Theodore. “So there’s just no other place to pull from right now.”
Sheldon Stewart was one of the two council members who voted no on the ordinance.
“I feel like there are other forms and mechanism,” Stewart said. “I also don’t agree with us including a step down program in this funding. I don’t want to say I’m not for expanding the jail beds, because I feel like we do need to house the criminals. I just think it can be done another way.”
The added sales tax is expected to generate about $76 million a year. The change would go into effect July 1.
