New Orem council presses legislators to keep housing decisions local and flags tax and transportation priorities

Decisions at a glance

Agenda, item by item

1. Presentation

   Meeting with the state legislative delegation: housing and housing affordability

   Discussed

   Mayor Young said housing affordability is the council's top concern and asked that cities be allowed to address it themselves. Representative Val Peterson said a task force is working on it and no one has a single fix; Senator Curt Bramble said the legislature is reluctant to override local land use. Council Member Tom Macdonald noted the state has funds for housing that depend on cities zoning for it. Discussion covered growth tied to Utah State University, short-term rentals and the difference between high density and affordable housing.

2. Presentation

   Meeting with the delegation: economic development incentives and sales tax

   Discussed

   City Manager Jamie Davidson said the governor's office is looking at curbing local tax incentives for retailers and argued that Orem, focused on redevelopment such as University Place, needs the tool. Senator Mike McKell said he is not aware of a bill that would eliminate it. On sales tax, which is distributed 50 percent by population and 50 percent by point of sale, Davidson warned that shifting toward population could be harmful; Representative Keven Stratton said it would be disruptive and he does not see it as viable, though some bills are not yet public.

3. Roads and utilities

   Meeting with the delegation: growth and water funding

   Discussed · Orem

   McKell said a proposal would send $25 million of federal American Rescue Plan money to Utah County for water quality, and that Orem hopes to receive $1.5 million toward its $9.3 million water reuse and conservation project. Provo, Payson, Salem, Springville and the Timpanogos Special Service District also have projects.

   • Grant$1.50 million Hoped-for share of $25 million Utah County water quality allocation toward Orem's $9.3 million water reuse and conservation project (not yet approved). Paid from American Rescue Plan Act, state allocation

4. Presentation

   Meeting with the delegation: public safety retirement

   Discussed

   Davidson said a pending bill would return public safety retirement from a 25-year to a 20-year system with higher benefits. The city does not oppose better pay and benefits but must weigh wages against retirement for recruitment and retention, and the added cost would be in the hundreds of thousands of dollars. Senator Bramble said he does not see the bill advancing in the Senate.

5. Roads and utilities

   Meeting with the delegation: transportation, schools and taxes

   Discussed · 1600 North, Geneva Road, University Parkway

   Davidson thanked legislators for millions of dollars for 1600 North between 1200 West and State Street and for Geneva Road from University Parkway to about 1800 South, and listed further priorities including the University Parkway interchange, a direct I-15 access to Utah Valley University, Center Street and a structure at the mouth of Provo Canyon. Council Member David Spencer asked why residents must pay again to buy back a school building the Alpine School District is closing, and Council Member Terry Peterson asked for support for a feasibility study of splitting the district. Council Member LaNae Millett asked about reducing the residential property tax exemption to fund police, which Bramble said would require changing the state constitution; Council Member Debby Lauret asked about indexing the tax rate to inflation instead of annual truth in taxation hearings. Stratton and Bramble said they would support an independent analysis of a district split.

   Follow UDOT road projects in Orem (Geneva Road, State Street, 1600 North) in the development tracker →

What residents said

Local control of housingEconomic development incentivesSales tax formulaPublic safety retirementSchool closures