I Thought UTOPIA was bad, but I was wrong.

I was just reading the latest newsletter from the Utah Taxpayers Association. I thought UTOPIA was bad. Now I’m sure it’s horrible.

I was under the impression that Orem City’s UTOPIA debt was $50 million, which is more than $50 per person. The newsletter points out the debt is $77 million, or closer to $800 for every woman, man and child in the city.

I also assumed that this debt would be paid off with the mandatory fees of $20 per household and $40 per business (adjusted for inflation). Not true. According to the June 2014 Utah Taxpayer Association newsletter, these fees would only go to pay for the costs going forward. Only if there is a substantial upsell in premium services would there be a chance that money would be available to pay off the existing debt.

It’s hard to believe anyone could continue to support something so poorly planned and mismanaged.

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