What is a feasibility study?

Generally, a feasibility study is a document that examines the likelihood of success of a particular proposal. In relation to the Township Issue, House Bill 40 provided funds to be used to conduct a feasibility study for Salt Lake County. You'll find this document at the County website, http://www.co.slc.ut.us/ near the bottom. It's a PDF file, created by Wikstrom Economic & Planning Consultants.

These people were charged with the task of evaluating each township and its options to annex or be incorporated. Tables and tables of information reveal findings both in favor of and in opposition to annexing or incorporating. The study was done for the benefit of the COUNTY, to assess whether or not it could afford to "lose" any of the areas for which it currently provides services.

Table 33 indicates that if the Millcreek Township were to incorporate or annex and remove its revenues and expenditures from the Municipal Services Fund (used by County to fund services), taxes in the remaining portion of the county would need to increase by 30%.

Appendix C shows the level of property taxes revenues needed to INCREASE our services to the Average Suburban Municipality Service Package Level. (Cities provide more services than the County provides to the Township areas). Using the Wikstrom assumptions and calculations, Millcreek Township would generate $44 million in revenues. This covers the cost of the services currently being provided by the County, $43 million (Appendix D).

What is annexation?

Annexation is the removal of one parcel of land from an unincorporated area and the addition of that land to an adjacent city. The more attractive pieces of land to be annexed are those with commercial development that may generate additional revenue for a city, without necessarily increasing the service burden (expenditures). This is commonly referred to as "cherry picking".

I've heard historic narratives of how Salt Lake City wanted to annex the Brickyard Complex and had to take enough of the surrounding residential area to meet the 105% rule.

The 105% rule is in place to evaluate the revenues of the "new" city versus the cost of services. This rule applies to either annexation or incorporation. If the addition of an area to an existing city or the incorporation of an area generates revenues that are greater than 105% of the proposed areas cost of services, a boundary change must be made or other modifications to reduce revenues.

Source:Utah Code Section 10-2-101, 106(5); 109(3).

What is the "unincorporated county"?

Living in the unincorporated county means that your government representation is at the county level, but it means that you are not part of a city. It likely means that the majority of your services (think police, fire, etc.) are provided through the county.

Your voice is heard through an at-large county council person. You may enjoy the benefits of having a local community council through a township. But the Utah Township laws will expire on December 31, 2009 and that volunteer representation will be dissolved, unless Township legislation is passed by the 2009 State Legislature.

Why do I live in a Township?

If you don't live in a city (a municipality that has opted to incorporate into a city form of government), then chances are you live in a township. But what does it mean to live in the "unincorporated county?"

Confused already?

Several histories of the township have already been written by the Millcreek Township itself; this link also describes the legislative intent of House Bill 40, a piece of legislation written to buy time in knowing what should become of the Townships.

Basically, townships were created as a way to protect the land adjacent to a city, from being annexed by that city. Townships were created to establish the boundaries of an area and protect it from further annexation.

What is a Township?

When I first moved into the area in 2003, I was chatting with one of the election judges at a the local polling station and was informed that I lived in the East Millcreek Township. When I asked what that meant, the answer I received was, "You don't have to have an extra layer of government."

Great, less government seems like a good idea.

Then I would receive the Millcreek Township Journal and I could read all about the local events in our area, the updates from the volunteer Township Council and the current issues being discussed.

Definitions on the web-
an administrative division of a county

If you're Scottish, a very small agricultural community, usually describing a local rural or semi-rural government within a county

In the US,a small geographic area

Now I realize that I can define my community and keep informed by my Township Council.
And if you haven't heard, we have a long list of issues about which we can be informed!

Welcome

Welcome to the new blog, created as a forum to address the issues related to incorporating the Millcreek Township into a city. This blog is not sponsored by any current member of the Township Council or any perons related to Salt Lake County. As a concerned citizen, I felt a responsibility to help educate my friends and neighbors on the process and findings related to becoming a self-governing entity. I gladly welcome all comments both for and against incorporating, but will retain the right to censor any vulgar, profane or inappropriate comments.

-the editor, amy j