House moves to buy Box Elder education center, citing payoff of outstanding bonds

House Bill 128, presented by Representative Ben Ferry, cleared the Utah House after floor amendments that adjusted dollar figures.

Ferry described the measure as an appropriation to acquire the Box Elder County Education Center complex in Brigham City and the 11 acres the county has offered to donate; together with the facility’s 10 acres, the state would own about 21 acres. Ferry said the state previously made a $900,000 down payment in 1994 but received no deed or ownership; the county financed the remainder with municipal bonds. The outstanding callable balance was listed on the floor as $2,741,391.

"It is the same building in question," Ferry said when asked whether the facility the state had partially funded earlier was the same. He told the House the purchase would recapture the down payment and eliminate continuing lease payments paid by state occupants.

Representatives asked about building age, expected life and whether buying the facility was the best use of limited state dollars; Ferry said the building had been remodeled in recent years and that the facility would meet regional educational needs for about 20 years. Representative Tyler urged consideration of current needs elsewhere in the state, asking why the purchase should be prioritized when other urgent needs remain.

Floor amendments adjusted the payoff amount downward and deleted specified lines in the text; the House took a short recess (saunter) to allow the chamber’s computer system to come up, then resumed to vote on the amended bill. Voting was opened after the break with the bill considered as amended.

Next steps: HB128, as amended on the House floor, will be carried to the Senate for further consideration; sponsors said appropriation details and cash-flow analyses are in members’ handouts.