SALT LAKE COUNTY, UT — Salt Lake County voters will consider a Recreation General Obligation Bond of up to $128 million on the November general election ballot.
Proposed by the Salt Lake County Council, the measure would fund 30 regional park, trail, open space, and recreation facility projects throughout the county. Proposed projects are organized into three strategic categories: repairing existing parks and recreation facilities; completing planned phases of regional parks and trails; and building new regional recreation amenities to meet population growth, including new recreation centers in Midvale and West Jordan.
The projects were proposed through an open municipal application process, prioritized by an advisory board of community members, local mayors, and county leadership to ensure geographic balance and alignment with community need, and approved by the County Council.
Because county recreation bonds authorized in 2016 will be paid off soon, the newly proposed bonds are currently planned to replace that expiring debt with an estimated $0 net property tax rate increase for residents, maintaining the current annual cost of $16.39 ($1.37 per month) for an average home valued at $658,000.
General obligation bonds are voter-approved loans repaid through property taxes that provide upfront capital for major infrastructure projects. Salt Lake County voters approved similar recreation bonds in 1996, 2006, and 2016, which funded many of the county's regional parks and recreation centers open today. These capital bonds are typically paired with the Zoo, Arts, and Parks (ZAP) sales tax cycle. While ZAP, reauthorized in 2024, funds daily operations for parks and recreation, general obligation bonds cover the capital investments needed to build and renew facilities.
Voters can review the proposed project list, map, cost estimates, and frequently asked questions at slco.to/rec-bond. Informational pamphlets are being distributed by mail to registered voter households across Salt Lake County.
To review voter information or vote center locations, visit the State of Utah Voter Information Portal or the Salt Lake County Clerk Elections Division.