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Candidate questions long-term tax commitments, seeks transparency on TRCC and Provo airport deal
Summary
Bill Brimley said he would demand transparency before supporting long-term county tax commitments such as the TRCC sales tax and a 15-year $3.5 million-per-year agreement with Provo City for airport expansion.
Bill Brimley, a Republican candidate for Utah County Commission Seat B, told the Utah County Republican Party podcast he would require transparency and clear benefits before backing long‑term spending commitments funded by sales taxes.
The host described the tourism‑recreation‑cultural‑arts‑convention (TRCC) 1% tax and an interlocal arrangement in which the county contributed an initial $19.5 million to expand Provo Airport and agreed to pay $3.5 million per year to Provo City for 15 years. Brimley said he would need more information but that he would be amenable to projects that are transparent and budgeted: “If the benefit justifies the cost, then sure, as long as it's disclosed and transparent and people are in support of it.”
Why it matters: County tax commitments that stretch for years can crowd out other projects, Brimley said. The candidate expressed concern that committing future tax revenue may force the county to forego other priorities. He told the host he is wary of continually adding small sales‑tax increments and wants citizens to have more say in how those revenues are allocated.
Brimley also discussed the quarter‑cent sales taxes used for transit (UT A and FrontRunner) and said citizens should be more involved in prioritizing projects funded by those levies. On the county’s role in transportation financing, he said he would review any long‑term pledge before committing county dollars, noting that commitments to transit can involve multiple funding streams and intergovernmental agreements.
Budget numbers referenced in the interview include past county property‑tax increases cited by the host (about a 67% increase in 2019 and 48% in 2024) and the Provo airport arrangement (initial $19.5 million plus $3.5 million annually under a 15‑year interlocal agreement). Brimley said he would accept long‑term deals only when the costs, transparency and benefits are clear to citizens.
Ending: Brimley said he favors exploring alternative funding approaches where possible and emphasized citizen input and disclosure as conditions for supporting multi‑year county commitments.
