A $90 million Salt Lake County recreation bond is headed toward the November 2026 ballot with no Sandy-specific project on the recommended list. Sandy homeowners would still pay into it, though the bond is structured to carry no net tax increase.
The Recreation Bond Advisory Board voted July 17 on a final recommended project and funding list. The outcome has not been posted yet. The board's recommendation goes to the Salt Lake County Council, which must submit the bond to the county clerk by August 11 for it to appear on the November ballot. That tight deadline is why the vote matters now, even before results are public.
Sandy's stake
No Sandy project appeared among the external applications presented to the board through its July 10 meeting. Sandy falls within the county's Southeast planning area. No Sandy official sits on the four-member advisory board.
Still, Sandy residents use county-owned recreation facilities funded by the bond and would pay into it as county taxpayers. The $90 million amount matches the existing taxpayer burden from the expiring 2016 bond, meaning no property tax increase, according to board meeting minutes from June 12.
How the money splits
The Salt Lake County Council mandated three spending buckets:
- $36 million (40%) for capital repair and maintenance
- $27 million (30%) to finish previously started projects
- $27 million (30%) for new development
The county faces roughly $160 million in deferred maintenance across more than 300 line items system-wide, Parks and Recreation Director Chris Otto told the board at its June 12 meeting. The annual Tourism, Recreation, Cultural, and Convention fund covers only about $10 million per year across all parks, arts, culture, and planetarium assets, according to Community Services Director Robin Chalhoub. That gap makes the bond critical for catching up on aging infrastructure.
Facility Management Director Tyson Kyhl cited the South Jordan Recreation Center's HVAC failure, which left the fitness room at 80–90°F for an entire summer, as an example of what happens when maintenance is deferred.
Which projects made the cut
Of 19 external applications totaling $172–192 million in requests, only four cleared the county's eligibility requirements as of June 12: Salt Lake City's Civic Center All Abilities Destination Playground, Midvale's Union Park Recreation Center, West Jordan's Ron Wood Regional Recreation Center, and West Valley City's baseball field expansion.
State statute requires the county to hold an ownership interest in every project funded by the bond, which disqualified or complicated the majority of applications.
Who voted
The board is composed of four Salt Lake County mayors: Chair Dustin Gettel of Midvale, Vice Chair Lorin Palmer of Herriman, Cheri Jackson of Millcreek, and Tish Buroker of Riverton.
Community Services Director Chalhoub said at the board's June 5 meeting that the County Council has historically accepted the advisory board's recommendations with only minor adjustments.
What's next
The board's next scheduled meeting is July 31. Results from the July 17 vote are expected to be posted at saltlakecounty.portal.civicclerk.com. Residents can attend future meetings in person at 2001 South State Street, Salt Lake City, or join via Cisco Webex.
