Utah voter’s guide: key amendments and bonds on Utah’s ballot

No doubt, you already know a little bit about the candidates running for office. But what about the other issues further down the ballot? 

Amendments on the ballot, not counted

Amendments A and D will still show up on your ballot. However, because of the rulings by court, any votes cast on them will not be counted. Amendment D was the first to fall. The constitutional amendment on citizen ballot initiatives faced a legal challenge that went all the way to the Utah Supreme Court. The state’s top court found that ballot language advanced by GOP legislative leaders was misleading and the amendment failed to follow the Utah Constitution’s strict requirement about publication in a newspaper for a certain period of time leading up to an election. 

Amendment A opponents made the same legal arguments to a lower court judge. Faced with the decision by the Utah Supreme Court, the judge ruled Amendment A was void. It would have removed the earmark on income taxes for public education, but also removed the state portion of the sales tax on food if it had been successfully passed. 

What about the other amendments? 

Amendments B and C are not as controversial. In fact, there’s no organized opposition to them. Amendment B would expand the amount of money dispersed into a statewide education fund. Amendment C would ensure that county sheriffs are, in fact, elected. 

The $507-million public safety and homeless services bond

In November, Salt Lake County voters will get to weigh in on a $507 million public safety bond meant to help people in and out of jail and keep them from reoffending. 

If approved, the money would be used to consolidate the two county jails and add new jail beds. 

The funds would also help build a new Justice and Accountability Center, where lower-level inmates would have access to dedicated case workers, mental health and substance use treatment, job training and even housing opportunities. 

Members of the Salt Lake County Council previously voted 8-1 across party lines to put the measure on the ballot. They said the priorities of the half-a-billion-dollar bond came together after conversations with local businesses, judges, legislators, homeless service providers, the county sheriff’s office and other stakeholders working to identify the gaps in the county's existing criminal justice system. The bond is part of the county’s broader Human Services, Homelessness and Criminal Justice Action Plan. 

A $730-million school bond in Salt Lake City

Salt Lake City voters will decide whether to fund a $730-million bond for school improvements. 

Time to upgrade Murray City schools? 

The Murray City School District says the time for upgrades to some buildings is long overdue. The superintendent says their plumbing, electrical and mechanical systems are deteriorating. 

That’s why you’ll see a bond request for $125 million for Murray City Schools on your ballot. 

Ninety million of that would go toward replacing Riverview Junior High. 

Judging the Judges

Think of it as a Yelp or Google review on the judges on the ballot. The Judicial Performance Evaluation Commission has people observe and rank judges that appear on your ballot. 

The Alpine School District Split 

The Alpine School District is the largest school district in the state of Utah. 

In November, voters in several cities will be able to decide whether or not to split the school district up. That would involve splitting the district in two, with the new district being called Central School District, as of now. 

According to recent Utah legislation, the decision to split the school district came from the cities.