Salt Lake County Council Acts to Address Jail Overcrowding and Countywide Transportation Needs

Public safety and transportation would be funded through a sales tax

Salt Lake County, UT - Today the Salt Lake County Council voted 7-2 to open additional beds at Oxbow Jail and to provide transportation funding to cities and the state through the implementation of a local option sales tax. Salt Lake County is implementing this sales tax because transportation and public safety needs have significantly increased across the county over the last several years.

Beginning July 1, 2025, the sales tax would collect one cent for every five dollars spent. Revenue from the sales tax will be distributed to the state, county, and cities.

The state and cities will receive three-quarters of this tax for transportation funding and transit-related projects. This investment is imperative to handling growth, traffic congestion, and preparing for the upcoming 2034 Olympics.

The other quarter of these funds will go to Salt Lake County. The County's highest priority is public safety and, because of a shortage of jail beds, funding is greatly needed to increase the number of operable beds in the Oxbow Jail, one of the county's two jails. The County intends to approach this as a multi-year, short-term solution that is necessary because of the failure of last year's proposed public safety bond.

"We are dedicated to public safety in Salt Lake County and appreciate the County Council's decision, which allows us to increase our capacity at the Oxbow Jail," said Sheriff Rosie Rivera. "Jail population has increased over the years and this additional funding will help us manage the increased demand for beds."

• The county's portion of the tax will be used for public safety as follows:
  $6.4 million to open and operate an additional 184 beds at the Oxbow Jail.
• Offset the estimated $1.5 million revenue loss by discontinuing the state contract
  for the Competency Restoration Unit, which currently occupies a unit in the Metro
  Jail. This change will free up an additional 64 beds in the Metro Jail.
• Remaining funds will be allocated for future modifications to the Metro Jail,
  immediate deferred maintenance needs at the Oxbow Jail, programming to
  reduce recidivism, and other key criminal justice priorities.

If the local option sales tax is implemented, roughly $76 million will be generated annually. State legislation requires half ($38 million) of the funds go to needed transit related projects within Salt Lake County, as determined by the state. One-quarter ($19 million) would go to cities in Salt Lake County to meet transportation needs, and the other quarter ($19 million) would go to Salt Lake County for public safety.

"While we are always looking for ways to be more efficient and effective, our general fund budget is the only place we can pay for public safety services. More than 74 percent of our general fund budget is public safety related," said Salt Lake County Council Chair Dea Theodore. "Even with the majority of general fund going toward countywide public safety, there is not enough revenue in the general fund budget to finance the opening of these additional beds"

Mayor Jenny Wilson supports the implementation of the tax as a means to address public safety and criminal justice reform, as well as to improve transportation in Salt
Lake County.

"This critical action allows us to more swiftly address community public safety concerns and provides needed transportation investment throughout the County," said Salt Lake County Mayor Jenny Wilson.

The Council will have the second reading on the local option sales tax at their February 18 meeting, Salt Lake County Council Chambers, North Building, 2001 South State Street, #N1-110. Members of the public are invited to speak during public comment time, which begins at 3 PM. The public may also email comments to council@saltlakecounty.gov.

For more detailed information about the local option sales tax, see FAQs.