Salt Lake City Council endorses library tax hike, OKs 2010 budget

Salt Lakers could fork out more to pay for city libraries.

But businesses won't have to swallow a license-fee hike.

On Tuesday, the Salt Lake City Council approved the city's 2009-2010 budget. Despite the need to slash $12 million from the current year's spending plan, the main budget does not include a property-tax increase.

But the council, in a 5-2 vote, moved ahead with a plan to boost the portion of taxes that property owners pay toward libraries. A final decision will be made after a truth-in-taxation hearing on Aug. 11.

The proposal would tack $7.80 a year onto the annual property-tax bill for a $280,000 home. Commercial land owners would dole out an additional $50.95 a year on a $1 million parcel.

The Salt Lake City library system would take in an additional $917,000 a year that would shore up existing expenses and fund construction of a Glendale branch by 2012, with the help of a sales-tax bond.

The extra cash also would launch design and planning for a Marmalade neighborhood library.

"I would encourage you to look strongly at funding these libraries," Salt Lake City architect Allen Roberts said in a public hearing. "They would provide an immediate benefit to communities who have never been served in the way that other communities have."

The city already owns a site in Glendale, near 1300 West and California Avenue, that could host a library.

"Maybe a nickel don't buy you much, but

if we all get together in the city here it will buy two libraries," said Councilman Van Turner, who has pushed for the Glendale branch for a decade. "We have the opportunity to really build something that will last for a hundred years."

Salt Lake City Mayor Ralph Becker slashed $12 million from the current year's $210 million general fund budget to make up for shrinking revenues forecast for 2009-2010.

He did so without laying off city workers or raising property taxes. But employees -- including the mayor -- face a 1.5 percent pay cut, and 36 open positions won't be filled.

The council eliminated Becker's proposed boosts to fees for business licenses and ground transportation services, including taxi cabs.

But the council cranked up the price for dwindling burial plots in the city cemetery by 20 percent. The cost of burial services also rose.

rwinters@sltrib.com