WE’VE GOT TROUBLE

RIGHT HERE IN RIVER CITY

City Council Workshop Meeting of Feb. 9^th 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