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Sen. Brady Brammer tells Pleasant Grove council he opposes state preemption of city land‑use; previews gas‑tax bill
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Summary
State Sen. Brady Brammer visited the Pleasant Grove Council and discussed city discretion over land use, a refiner‑level gas‑tax proposal intended to be revenue‑neutral (estimated $300–$500 yearly savings for a family of four), transport utility fee talks, housing policy limits and education funding stability.
State Sen. Brady Brammer addressed Pleasant Grove’s City Council on Jan. 13, praising recent local development and outlining several state legislative priorities before answering council questions.
Brammer said he opposes efforts to move municipal land‑use decisions to the state. "You've been elected by your residents with inherent powers that you need to be able to use now," he told the council, urging local discretion on zoning and development.
He described a gas‑tax proposal he sponsors that would shift the tax collection point to refiners while keeping revenues revenue‑neutral for Utah. Brammer said the shift is intended to capture tax on gasoline that leaves the state and that it could reduce pump costs; he estimated it would save "probably between 300 and $500 per year for a family of four." He and council members discussed safeguards to ensure Class C road funding remains protected under the bill.
On housing policy, Brammer said cities should retain discretion and warned against state directives that use road funding as leverage for local affordable‑housing compliance. He told the council he would push back against proposals that remove municipal authority.
Brammer also described education financing changes intended to stabilize funding, including an income stabilization fund the state has built to smooth education revenues over economic cycles.
Council members asked follow‑up questions on road‑fund impacts, housing compliance mechanics and state constraints on potential local solutions for health‑care and water policy. Brammer repeatedly framed the issues as balancing statewide policy and local sovereignty and invited council members to stay involved through the League of Cities and Towns.
The council thanked Brammer for attending; he left the meeting after an extended question‑and‑answer period.
