Utopia—a perfect state of being. That is certainly what Brigham City would like you to believe about the UTOPIA infrastructure that the City is buying into. Utopia is touted to bring cheap, fast internet service via fiber optical cable to every business and home in Brigham City; hopefully, making it a destinations spot for business and travel. Sure, it sounds great on the surface. After all, in our current tech-savvy atmosphere nearly “everybody needs” internet service. Well, the quaint city of Brigham City decided that their citizens “need” it so much that it is worth a 30-year municipal bond at 6 percent interest.
So who pays that bill? Certainly not the mayor. It falls on the backs of the taxpayers. While some may be enthused about this, a second look needs to be taken at the true cost of Utopia. One of their claims is that if you go to Utopianet.org, you will see that after the initial cost of the infrastructure, the equipment is paid for; then all you have is the cost of the actual internet service. What this boils down to for the average household is $25 a month increase on their utility bill for the next 10 years for a total cost of $3000. Not quite the savings that Utopia would have you believe. To make matters worse, as a Utopia city you get to pay that increase whether you need or want internet service. The cost of basic service, according to Brighamnet.com (who I called to get a quote), starts at $34.95 a month. Making the true cost per household nearly $60. Cheap? Not in my book. Worth it? Well, that is matter of opinion. For many of the seniors living on fixed incomes, this is sticker shock for a service they don’t need or want.
Even more shocking is the $2.1 million dollar shortfall that the City has right now for the cost of Utopia. Utopia claims that if they don’t have enough sign ups, then Macquarie doesn’t get paid “period.” Well, that may be what they say, but with a 30-year bond in place, somebody has to pay that bill. Utopianet claims that 26 percent of the Brigham City residents are already signing up or using services that Utopia will provide, ensuring enough money to pay the bond and have extra money to pay the bond off early. Well, I double checked the numbers of Utopianet.org, and frankly they just don’t add up. Brigham City has 17,800 citizens (as of the 2010 census) and just 2,900 people using the services, which adds up to a mere 16 percent— hence the $2.1 million dollar shortfall.
Many people feel deceived by Utopia, finding that the cost is not cheap. If you go to sell your home, the Utopia infrastructure has to be paid off; in essence, putting a lien on your home before you sell it. Brigham City is knee deep in Utopia. While the town may have the best intentions for the citizens, many feel this is an unfair tax on the people and a government over-reach. Citizens are still fighting it and Council Member Ruth Jensen is opposed to Utopia—remembering it is the people’s money that Brigham City is spending. Will the City re-evaluate the true cost and re-consider? Time will tell; but, perhaps it is time to put it to a vote of those who will pay for it—the citizens of Brigham City. Attend your City meetings and get educated; and then let your representative know how you feel. The time has come where citizens need to make their voices heard when it is their tax money being spent on “bonds for the future.”
