WE’VE GOT TROUBLE
RIGHT HERE IN RIVER CITY
City Council Workshop Meeting of Feb. 9th
served as a prelude to upcoming City Budget demands. Verbal presentations were
made by City Department Heads describing the workings of each department,
accomplishments and challenges faced. This is intended to provide the Mayor and
each council person with an improved understanding of projected costs necessary
to satisfy operational needs of the city. Expenditures from the General Fund
are at issue as this is the monetary source which pays for the items that
insure Protection of Life and Property and the Worldly Needs we have come to
expect. (Leisure Services – Parks & Recreation Enjoyments). The main source of revenue to the
General Fund comes from Property Tax and Sales Tax. The city manager informed
elected officials that in years past the city received about 18% of Property
Tax collected and this has been whittled down to 13.52 %.
SOOOOOO who among us….. Wants an increase in Property Tax to restore the
percentage lost. FOLKS, I am able to
tell you that I know of no member of the city council that supports raising
YOUR Property Tax. I share with you this
bit of information so that you might better understand the challenges faced in
approving this upcoming budget year.
As
an added aside to challenges faced….As if we in Southern Utah don’t have our
own LOCAL concerns to address and manage…..To
the satisfaction of local voters it was reported at this Council Workshop Meeting that it
appears that some of our State Legislators may have designs on how to exert
their power and influence over how local city governments manage ZONING LAWS by
telling local city officials THAT they may no longer regulate Short-Term Rentals. I refer you to House Bill 409 currently under
consideration.
Doesn’t this make you think of that great
performance give in Music Man where the star performer said…..“We’ve Got Trouble Right Here In
River City”.
The trouble I refer to is that LOCAL control is no longer valued by
politicians…..Who reside in the northern portion of the State and who seem
intent to treat SG as a Step-Sister……Not deserving of due respect. I hope that I have stirred your interest in Short-Term Rentals and will shorten this article by
stating that it appears that HB
409 if approved will in effect take
local control away. Please take the time to read HB 409. Specifically line
item(s) 90 (i) which reads “Permanent Resident” means the owner of record
or a lessee of a residential unit. 91 (ii) “Residential Unit” means a
residential structure or any portion of a residential. 92 structure that is
occupied as a residence. 93 (iii) “Short-Term Rental means a residential unit
or any portion of a residential unit that 94 is offered by a permanent resident
of the residential unit for occupancy for fewer than 30. 95 consecutive days.
It
surely does appear that zoning laws are not
important to certain State Legislators and that if HB 409 is passed and it appears that it is
on a Fast Track to be approved…..That Short-Term Rentals will become a reality ANY PLACE in the city. Ask
yourself where does your State Representative stand on this issue. As for me I asked…..Representative Jon E.
Stanard (435) 414-4631 who’s side are you on? Where do you stand on this issue?
Folk’s I understand that this is a HOT
issue for many of us and ask that you get involved and let you thoughts be known. Thank you.
ED BACA
