Volunteers offer free tax prep for low-income Utahns

Bank of Utah volunteers will be offering free income tax preparation services to low-income Utah families on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Cottages of Hope Inc. in Ogden.

For information about the services or to schedule an appointment call 2-1-1.

Cottages of Hope Inc.is at 2724 S. Washington Blvd. in Ogden. Cottages of Hope is a charitable organization with the goal of helping address people’s basic needs and then guiding them to economic independence and financial stability. Salt Lake Tribune

Utah universities are facing billion-dollar nightmare

In Weber State University’s Science Lab Building, the fume hoods don’t suck air (a bad thing), and no one bothered to install a sprinkler system (even worse). Chemistry students have nowhere to study except in the halls, where officials recently removed the chairs because of fire-safety concerns. If these problems weren’t bad enough, the chemistry labs are on the fifth floor. Because of fire codes, a chemistry department cannot be above the third floor.

Relief could be on the way. Weber’s $63 million request to replace the 1969 science building is on the bubble as lawmakers firm up the state budget this week. But this building is just the tip of a billion-dollar iceberg waiting for taxpayers in coming years as dozens of college buildings continue to deteriorate. Salt Lake Tribune

Syracuse development could have $51 million economic impact, state official says

Jeff Edwards, president of Economic Development Corporation Utah, said running the numbers on a proposed Ninigret Group L.C. project on 180 acres near Syracuse High School shows the proposal would do more than potentially create more than 1,000 jobs. It would generate the circulation of millions of dollars from salaries, new retail opportunities, new tax revenue and other amenities.

The current Ninigret proposal includes a 155-acre job center, which could include an array of industrial, light-industrial and commercial uses. The plan also includes 25 acres of multifamily development. The project is south of the coming State Road 193 expansion project, west of 1000 West, east of 2000 West and north of 700 South. Ninigret outlined plans for the project in November 2011 on property owned by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The company estimated the project could bring as many as 1,200 jobs to the region. Standard Examiner

Visitors perk up Weber, Davis county tourism revenues

Tourism tax revenues in Weber and Davis counties are on the rise as the area has become more recognized by travelers and tourists. Weber County experienced a 2.9 percent increase in its tourism tax revenue through Oct. 31. Davis County reports an 8.7 percent overall increase in its tourism tax revenue during the same time period. Tourism tax revenue is generated from a combination of the restaurant tax, transient (hotel) room tax and vehicle lease or car rental tax. Ogden Standard-Examiner

UTA’s tax revenues rebound after bleak start to the year

An apparent rush of spending by Wasatch Front consumers this summer has put the Utah Transit Authority’s budget back on track, but officials say the revenue slide throughout the recession may ding the agency’s bond rating when it borrows up to $200 million next month for rail construction.

UTA took in $16.7 million in June, about $1.3 million more than projected, and made up most of a $1.5 million gap between year-to-date revenues and the budget they support. It’s enough to make the agency more comfortable that it will end the year in the black, but not enough to celebrate an end to austere times or the fare hikes they helped spur.

The agency’s tax collections so far are almost identical to last year’s at the six-month mark, but the projected total by year’s end is $19 million lower than the pre-recession peak of $192 million in 2007. The Deseret News