Senate approves $64M court complex financing bill funded largely by civil-fee increases after lengthy debate

The Utah Senate voted to pass Senate Bill 275 on Feb. 25, 1994, authorizing a $64 million revenue bond to finance a consolidated court complex and increasing civil court fees to help fund the project.

Sponsor Senator Reese framed the bill as the product of years of study and committee approval, saying the courts, the Judicial Council, the bar and capital-facilities committees had reviewed the plan. "We've been looking at this now for for 7 years," Reese said, explaining that the fees would accumulate in a restricted account during design and construction and that fees are intended to cover approximately 61% of the cost, with general funds covering about 15%.

Opponents raised concerns about the scale of the proposal and who would bear the cost. Senator Holmgren described the plan as effectively generating "another increase in tax" through fees and warned the public may not understand the total fiscal effect. Senator Stevenson said the fee increase "does not pay entirely for the cost" and estimated the state could need to provide about $2 million per year after two years.

Senator McAllister and others highlighted the broader bond picture for the session and urged senators to consider cumulative revenue-bond exposure across several bills. Proponents including Senators Steiner and Howe argued consolidation would reduce operating and transport costs and better use court space.

After extended debate the Senate moved under suspension for final passage. The clerk recorded the roll-call vote as 15 ayes, 11 nays, 3 absent; the bill passed and will be sent to the House for further action.

Next steps: the bill will proceed to the House and, if enacted, the financing plan anticipates design-review oversight from the management and capital-facilities committees and management by the Division of Facilities and Construction Management.