Update on Salt Lake City Redevelopment Project

Salt Lake City raised the sales tax rate 18 months ago to help pay for a downtown renovation project. Money from this tax increase and a ticket fee from Delta Center is now coming into the city.

The city added a 0.5% sales tax increase. This has raised nearly $66 million so far. Salt Lake City and Smith Entertainment Group, which owns the Utah Jazz and Utah Mammoth, signed an agreement in 2024 for a big redevelopment.

Smith Entertainment Group plans to invest $3 billion. The idea includes a new entrance for Delta Center, pedestrian plazas, a residential tower, and a hotel. Some parts of the Salt Palace Convention Center will be rebuilt, but nearby Abravanel Hall will stay.

The tax increase goes from 7.75% to 8.25%. It is expected to raise about $1.2 billion over 30 years. The increase does not apply to groceries or big items like cars. The downtown project will not be done until just before the Olympics in 2034.

A new poll shows Utahns are divided on the tax increase. Some support it while others do not. People under 34 years old mostly support it. City residents are more in favour than those in rural areas.

How much do you know?

What was the sales tax rate raised to in Salt Lake City?

7.75%

8.25%

9.00%

7.50%

How much money has the sales tax increase raised so far?

$50 million

$66 million

$100 million

$200 million

Which group owns the Utah Jazz and Utah Mammoth?

Smith Entertainment Group

Salt Lake City

Delta Center

Abravanel Hall

How much does Smith Entertainment Group plan to invest in the redevelopment?

$1 billion

$2 billion

$3 billion

$4 billion

When is the downtown project expected to be completed?

2030

2032

2034

2036

Which aspect of the Salt Palace Convention Center will remain unchanged?

New entrance

Pedestrian plazas

Residential tower

Abravanel Hall

The sales tax was increased by 0.5%.

True False

The tax increase applies to groceries.

True False

Utahns are unanimously in favor of the tax increase.

True False

The tax increase will generate approximately $1.2 billion over 30 years.

True False

The downtown renovation will be completed before the Olympics in 2034.

True False

Residents under 34 years old mostly oppose the tax increase.

True False

Salt Lake City raised the sales tax rate to help pay for a downtown renovation project months ago.

The sales tax increase goes from 7.75% to %.

The downtown project is expected to raise about $ billion over 30 years.

Smith Entertainment Group plans to invest $ billion.

Some parts of the Salt Palace Convention Center will be rebuilt, but nearby Hall will stay.

People under 34 years old mostly the tax increase.

This question is required