Using a line-item veto, Gov. Gary Herbert rejected Wednesday spending $800,000 of tax money for what was essentially a gift by legislators to Bryson Garbett,a prominent homebuilder and former legislator, who sought it with the help of House Speaker-turned-lobbyist Greg Curtis.
As earlier reported by The Salt Lake Tribune, the $800,000 was for a sound wall — which the Utah Department of Transportation had earlier rejected — at a vacant field where Garbett plans to build 77 homes.
Buried on page 32 of SB3 — the 66-page, last-chance-for-money bill that was unveiled and passed on the last day of the Legislature — was the following directive:
“The Legislature intends that the Department of Transportation use $800,000 from the Transportation Fund to construct a sound barrier along Mountain View Corridor at 8157 South Mapleleaf Way, West Jordan.