The debate over a bill to fund homeless shelters in Utah came down to whether cities should pay what is essentially a penalty for not having enough affordable and low-income housing.
Some lawmakers and representatives from Utah’s cities said they can’t easily influence the kind of housing that’s built within their boundaries. So imposing a fee on those cities with less than the statewide average of affordable housing, they said, would essentially tax them for something outside their control.
But the majority of House members agreed with the bill put forward by Rep. Steve Eliason, R-Sandy, whose city could face among the highest penalties for lacking affordable housing.