As noted in the Ballot Overview Story in this current edition of the City Journals, two proposed bonds within the 2024 election are requiring voter input (one initiated by Salt Lake County and one initiated by the City of Cottonwood Heights). Both bond-related votes will have a direct impact on Cottonwood Heights residents’ property taxes. This story overviews the Salt Lake County, Utah – Local Special Bond Election.

For the county’s Public Safety Bond, voters have the option on their 2024 ballot to vote either in favor (yes) for the issuance of the bonds or against (no) against the issuance of bonds. 

Salt Lake County Councilmember Ann Granato and Salt Lake County Human Services Department Director Kelly Colopy visited the Cottonwood Heights City Council on Sept. 17 to overview the measure on the upcoming ballot pertaining to an issuance of a bond.

“We are going out for a bond for the DEA (Utah Drug Overdose) Task Force in expanding and improving community,” said Colopy. 

The bond is intended to help address some of the social ramifications related to the current opioid crisis including jail reformation and chronic homelessness. Specific focuses and expenditures include intervention programs for those living with substance abuse and resources for those who may be housing unstable. 

Conversations involving the opioid crisis in Utah, the DEA Utah Drug Overdose Task Force, and the proposed related bond commonly reference the uptick in popularity of fentanyl and the related overdose deaths. 

“It makes more sense to pool everything and get it fixed,” said Granato. “We have been looking at issues with the jail for several years now.” 

The confluence of overlapping, nationwide conversations several years ago made the State of Utah governance and Salt Lake County’s leaders realize the need for integrating mental healthcare with physical healthcare throughout the healthcare systems. 

“It made a lot of sense with the drug abuse we were seeing,” Colopy said. 

Realizing the way in which care was being approached needed to change, state and county leaders began researching and discussing trauma-informed practices. 

“If people need to be in jail, we want to make sure they have the opportunity to reform,” said Granato. 

Partial monies from the bond would go toward providing job training, social opportunities, access to the internet and temporary housing for those attempting to re-enter society. 

Some of these resources would be made available to those who may be housing unstable as well. In addition to transportation services as there has been more of an understanding that those within this community may have a hard time getting to court, when needed. 

“You cannot apply for a job or Medicaid unless you have an address,” Granato explained. She hopes to provide individuals trying to get necessary prescriptions with resources to be able to fill out required forms and documents. 

Working with the Justice and Accountability Center, an additional intention for the monies from the bond would be to provide 280 beds for mental health treatment. Colopy and Granato noted the lack of a Behavioral Health Stabilization Unit. 

Granato mentioned the County Council’s realization that the bond’s request is a lot of money to ask for but there are a lot of things on their table. They are hoping to help the over 150,000 individuals in the state of Utah needing the continuation of their mental healthcare and/or required prescriptions.  

“This has all come together and we are now working together on one package,” she said. 

In August, the Salt Lake County Council moved to accept Mayor Jenny Wilson’s recommendation to put a Public Safety Bond on the ballot in an 8-to-1 vote. 

As noted in our “Transforming Justice: Salt Lake County to vote on $507 million Safety Bond this November” story in the previous edition of the City Journals, if approved by voters, the proposed bond would cost the average Salt Lake County household $58.94 per year or under $5 per month. λ