Tax-free remodeling

To help stimulate the recovery of the local economy and improve county government revenue, the state Legislature should allow the Salt Lake County Council and Mayor Peter Corroon to eliminate or defer for perhaps 10 years any property tax increase that people would otherwise owe from doing home remodeling or expansion projects that are begun in the next year.

This would help put unemployed contractors and tradesmen back to work and increase sales of building materials and appliances. The increased economic activity may offset any small decrease in direct property tax revenue and would be popular among a broad range of constituents.

Richard Schmidt

Salt Lake City