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House backs option for unincorporated county residents to create municipal district
Summary
Third Substitute Senate Bill 216 passed the House after sponsors said it would let unincorporated areas voluntarily form municipal districts to provide local services and appear on a future ballot; the bill passed 67-4.
Third Substitute Senate Bill 216, a measure to create an option for unincorporated county areas to form a municipal district with local control over services, passed the Utah House 67-4 after lengthy floor discussion.
Representative Hutchings, sponsor of the House presentation, described the substitute as a significant change from the original bill: it creates an optional municipal district for unincorporated areas to join for municipal services including animal control, storm drains, traffic engineering, code enforcement and business licensing. Hutchings said the change gives residents a third option between incorporation and annexation, and preserves local boundaries by allowing communities to opt in via ballot measures after a year of study. "This provides for that third option where we could join together, have local control but be able to basically co-op together to get those types of municipal services," Hutchings said.
Multiple representatives who represent township or unincorporated-area constituencies spoke in favor, saying the substitute is a pragmatic compromise providing local voice without mandating change. Representative Arendt called the bill "a good step forward" after years of contention; Representative Lisonbee and others described constituent support.
The House opened and closed voting; the clerk reported 67 yes votes and 4 no votes. The bill will be signed by the Speaker and returned to the Senate for the President's signature.
What happens next: Sponsors said the measure sets up a study and a ballot process in 2015 for any community choosing to opt in. Implementation details and local procedures will be determined in subsequent administrative steps.
