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Senate approves $1 million to begin relocation of botanical gardens amid objections it won’t cover full cost
Summary
The Utah Senate approved funding to begin moving a botanical garden tied to Utah State University after debate about the project's scale and funding source; opponents said the $1 million fiscal note is insufficient and the project likely requires $5–6 million.
The Utah Senate on the floor approved Senate Bill 29 on third reading to provide initial funding for relocation and site work tied to a botanical garden affiliated with Utah State University.
Supporters, led on the floor by Senator Steele, framed the garden as part of Utah State University's land-grant mission and a statewide asset whose plant collections and research merit preservation. "This botanical garden is likewise part of the requirement in this land grant proposition," Steele said, urging the chamber to treat the project as a state responsibility rather than a local one.
Opponents questioned the choice of funding source and the adequacy of the amount. Senator Wadhams said he "stands in opposition to this bill" because it was changed from a transportation appropriation to the general fund and because "this million dollars will not do the project," estimating the full project could cost "5 or $6,000,000 to get it done the way it should happen." Senator Holmgren and Senator Petersen noted the bill carries roughly a $1 million fiscal note and that final prioritization of fiscal-note bills will occur later in the session.
Senator Tanner and other supporters said the requested money would begin necessary work to move valuable, mature plant specimens that can only be transplanted in specific seasons; Tanner said the money "will begin something" and stressed the urgency because the state-mandated off-the-property date for the Farmington site is 1999.
After debate, the clerk recorded Senate Bill 29 as passing to the House for consideration with 19 aye votes, 8 nay votes and 2 absent. The bill’s sponsor and supporters noted additional appropriations will likely be necessary in future years to complete the full relocation.
The Senate returned to other business after the vote; senators distributing small packages of flower seeds noted pages could collect unopened packets from colleagues.
The bill now moves to the Utah House for its consideration.
