Utah House Approves $54.5 Million Bond Package After Heated Debate Over University Projects

The Utah House of Representatives approved Senate Bill 2, a $54,501,200 bond package for capital facilities, by a 55-16 vote on Feb. 24, 1999, after extended debate on whether to remove or reduce several higher-education projects.

The bill — described on the floor as a broad capital list including classroom renovations, court facilities and technology projects — drew its sharpest dispute over the renovation of the Coles (recorded variously as “Coles” and “Cowles” in the transcript) Building at the University of Utah and the scope of an Information Sciences Building for Utah Valley State College (UVSC). Representative Short moved to reduce the Information Sciences allocation from $29 million to $16 million and other members proposed cutting the Coles Building; those amendment efforts failed on the floor.

Sponsor and committee leaders said the package reflects the Capital Facilities and General Government Committee’s prioritization across the state and noted some projects would use a mix of bond proceeds, cash and other dedicated funds. The sponsor also explained an approximately $7 million revenue-bond item for UTAX, the state tax-commission computer system, and said committee members believe this payment will complete funding but could not guarantee that later unforeseen costs won’t arise.

Opponents of the bond package called several projects low-priority or ‘‘pork’’ and argued the state should reduce bond indebtedness. Representative Short called the Coles Building renovation ‘‘not worth $7 million’’ to provide a few classrooms. Proponents countered that the Coles Building is on the National Register, is a Board of Regents priority and would add needed classroom capacity for growing campuses; supporters also said cutting scope now could increase costs later and harm long-term capacity.

Floor procedure moved quickly after debate: the previous question was ordered, debate was cut off, and voting closed. The House clerk recorded 55 yes votes and 16 no votes; the bill was read publicly by title and the Speaker signed the passage, with the Journal entry dated Feb. 24, 1999.

The bill as presented contains multiple line-item allocations — examples noted in floor remarks included a $19,445,200 Fiscal Education Building in Cedar City, a Bridgerland wing remodel funded in part from sale proceeds, a $7.3 million Bernal District Court allocation with a portion from court-fee cash balances, and revenue-bond financing for the UTAX system. The sponsor said certain non-state-funded projects include statutory language to prevent use of state O&M dollars.

With the House passage, Senate Bill 2 moved forward with the House’s signature and Journal entry recorded; no further procedural action on the floor was recorded in the transcript.

Ending: The House signed the bill and entered the fact of signing into the Journal on Feb. 24, 1999; the bill will follow the standard interchamber and post-passage procedures noted on the Journal.