DALLAS — Utah voters approved $139 million of bonds for local governments and schools Nov. 4, while passing five sales tax increases.
Voters also rejected a $12.7 million bond proposal in Pleasant Grove, Utah, and two tax increases.
The largest bond proposal was Provo City School District's $108 million to rebuild five schools. That measure passed with more than 70% of the vote.
The Provo bonds are expected to carry 20-year maturities. Officials estimate that an average Provo residence with a $210,000 valuation would have a property tax increase of $9.24 a month. The Provo district's $21 million of outstanding debt is rated Aa2 by Moody's Investors Service with a triple-A wrap from the state's school bond guarantee.
Nearly 72% of voters in the Park City area passed a $25 million bond proposal to buy open space and upgrades of trails and recreation facilities. The bonds from the Snyderville Basin Special Recreation District would increase property taxes for residents by about $19 per year for each $100,000 of a home's value.
With ratings of Aa2 from Moody's, Snyderville Basin has about $36 million of outstanding debt. The district covers about 60 square miles in unincorporated Summit County adjacent to Park City and just 20 miles east of Salt Lake City.
By a margin of 25 votes out of 4,861 cast, Farmington, Utah, in Davis County won passage of a $6 million bond issue for a public park and recreation center. With a rating of A1 from Moody's, Farmington has about $3 million of outstanding debt. Farmington voters also approved a 0.1 cent sales tax increase for recreation, arts and parks.
In Pleasant Grove, Utah, voters rejected $12.7 million for a new public safety building with more than 52% opposed. A similar $16.9 million proposal failed last year.
Pleasant Grove in Utah County is about 25 miles south of Salt Lake City. The city is rated A2 by Moody's.
In Salt Lake County, about 77% of voters supported a 0.1 cent sales tax for a zoo, arts and parks for another 10 years. The tax, which has been approved in three previous elections, requires a vote for an extension.
Similar tax measures were also passed in Uintah, Washington and Weber counties.
Voters in the Traverse Ridge Special Services District in Draper, Utah, repealed a tax add-on for snow removal at higher elevations.
A tax increase in the Murray City School District also failed with nearly 52% opposition. The district, rated Aa2 by Moody's, issued about $42 million of bonds in 2012. Murray City is a suburb of Salt Lake City in Salt Lake County.
