Support for the first-ever county-wide open space bond looked to be spread out across Summit County, with voters in just eight precincts in the north out of 50 precincts total voting against it.
The county recorder’s office reported 7,535 votes cast in favor of the bond – more than double the 3,453 votes against.
County council members told voters ahead of the election that the bond was not earmarked for a particular land purchase but rather would contribute to the county being ready and able to move quickly should land come on the market that it wanted to preserve rather than develop.
But council members did say they believe the eastern portion of the county in particular is under increasing development pressure of its open space. That’s due in part to the western side of the county already being fairly built out. And Council member Roger Armstrong said in September that the council had the Kamas Valley in mind when it conceived the bond.
The bond’s cost to taxpayers will be about $30 per year on a primary home valued at about $450,000.