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House approves golf-fee restricted account after rejecting privatization study amendment
Summary
House Bill 27 creates a restricted account to retain certain golf fees for Wasatch, Palisades and Jordan River parks; a floor amendment to study privatization of golf-course operations failed and the unamended bill passed 56–13.
Representative Atkinson introduced HB27 to create a restricted 'golf fee' account so fees collected at certain state golf courses could be retained locally and used for course upgrades. Proponents argued the restricted account would let profitable courses keep revenue for maintenance and improvements and help economic development and tourism; opponents said holding funds locally amounts to an implicit tax shift and warned of fairness and prioritization concerns for other park uses.
Representative Stevens offered an amendment directing a feasibility study on privatizing three state golf courses (not the parks themselves). Opponents said a privatization study had already been completed and argued the amendment violated the single-subject spirit; proponents said the amendment was narrowly focused and would save the legislature the cost of drafting a separate bill. The House voted down the amendment, left HB27 unamended and passed the bill 56–13.
Next steps: HB27 was referred to the Senate; floor debate raised questions about future fee-setting, permitted uses for funds (confined to improvement of the collecting park), and whether privatization merits a separate bill or study.
