Voting on Proposition #3

My dad always advised me to vote “no” on issues and candidates in elections where uncertainty (on my part) prevailed. I’ve taken that advice before and am using it again this year.

This year in Salt Lake County residents will have the opportunity to vote for Proposition 3, which proposes to fund new TRAX lines, roads, and commuter rail with a one-quarter of 1% sales tax increase.

I have thought long and hard about this. In a well-designed website by the Salt Lake Chamber, with well-designed lawn signs being seen all around, ardent proponents of Proposition #3 claim that:
The state of Utah is facing a very real transportation crisis. Utah’s population is increasing at double the national average (it’s like adding a city the size of Draper and Riverton to the state every year), and traffic is growing twice as fast. Traffic congestion on our roads and highways will triple over the next 25 years. By voting for Proposition 3, Utahns will fund the building of more TRAX lines, roadways (including the new Mountain View Corridor), and commuter rail. The exact order and priority of the projects will be decided by local government officials. With Proposition 3’s increased funding, many road and rail projects planned for completion 30 years from now can be finished by 2015.

The website also cleverly and urgently informs readers why it is important to vote on this NOW – without much detail.

There is no question what is needed. The SL Chamber has carefullyoutlined the facts on its website.

But here is my issue: Proposition #3 is too vague. I don’t like voting on issues that are not carefully thought out and do not outline specifically how my tax dollars will be used. SEveral years ago I voted FOR a TRAX line to be built in West Jordan. Other communities have done the same. Bus routes have been cut in my neighborhood. Where are we in the processes of those projects? Before I vote on an initiative, I want to see the precise budget proposal with an itemized list of how funds will be used, along with a timeline.

I am a very vocal and strong advocate of reducing traffic and diverting funds to more bus routes and better mass transportation overall. I would vote for Proposition #3 if as much time and money went into a better outlined proposal as is being spent on ads for its current vague proposal. As it is, while I have not 100% made my decision, I am at this point inclined to vote “no” on Propostion #3 in its current proposed state.