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House approves $250,000 matching grant program for county land‑use planning
Summary
The House passed HB285, appropriating $250,000 to the Office of Planning and Budget to distribute to counties on a 50/50 matching basis to assist county land‑use planning; up to $10,000 is set aside for Southern Utah University workshops.
The Utah House approved House Bill 285, an appropriation to support county land‑use planning, by a 62–8 vote on Feb. 12, 1998. Representative Dennis H. Iverson told the chamber the legislation would allocate $250,000 to the Office of Planning and Budget, which would distribute funds to qualifying counties on a fifty‑fifty matching basis.
Iverson said the bill includes up to $10,000 of the appropriation for Southern Utah University to support workshops through the Utah Center for Rural Life focused on preparing county land‑use plans and protecting private property rights. He said some 24 counties have participated in the program over the past five years and that while not all plans are fully implemented, the funding has helped counties make progress.
During questioning, members asked how many counties had completed implementation and whether the governor included the funding in the executive budget; Iverson said 24 counties had participated and that the governor had proposed the appropriation. Some members urged clearer end dates or criteria for ongoing funding; Iverson said the program likely will continue for another three to four years to complete remaining plans.
The House adopted the bill and recorded a roll-call vote of 62 yes and 8 no; the measure now goes to the Senate.
