Bill Overview
Title: University of Utah Research Park Act
Description: This bill releases to the University of Utah, without consideration, the revisionary interest of the United States in approximately 593 acres of specified nonfederal land.
Sponsors: Sen. Lee, Mike [R-UT]
Target Audience
Population: Individuals associated with the University of Utah and local community
Estimated Size: 5000
- The bill affects the University of Utah, influencing its ability to expand or utilize the land for research and development purposes.
- Researchers, students, and staff associated with the University of Utah will be directly impacted, as the land could be used for expanding research facilities or similar uses.
- Local communities and businesses around the Research Park may see indirect impacts due to potential increased economic activity and employment opportunities.
- The land in question is nonfederal and the impact is localized to the University of Utah area, thus the global population impact is minimal.
Reasoning
- The policy primarily affects individuals associated with the University of Utah either through direct involvement with its activities or through living in the local community benefiting from economic activities related to the university.
- Consideration of the impact on Cantril wellbeing scores takes into account both direct benefits such as improved job opportunities and indirect benefits such as increased community services and infrastructure improvements.
- Given the localized nature of the policy impact, a variety of perspectives, including those who might experience minimal or no impact, are included to provide a balanced view.
Simulated Interviews
University Research Scientist (Salt Lake City, UT)
Age: 35 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I think the additional land will be great for expanding our research capabilities, which can lead to better job security and new opportunities.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Graduate Student (Salt Lake City, UT)
Age: 24 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Having more facilities would be fantastic, potentially offering more lab spaces and funding for projects.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Local Business Owner (West Valley City, UT)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm hopeful that more development at the university means more customers, but there's also the risk of increased competition.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Retired (Salt Lake City, UT)
Age: 60 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I think the university's growth is positive, but I'm worried about the impact on traffic and housing.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 4 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 4 | 5 |
Software Engineer (Provo, UT)
Age: 31 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The expansion could lead to more collaborations and improved research outcomes which is exciting.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Construction Worker (Salt Lake City, UT)
Age: 50 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- We could get more work from this project, which would be a big help for my family.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 4 |
High School Teacher (Ogden, UT)
Age: 39 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This could be an opportunity for my students to have more options and pathways in higher education.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Freelance Graphic Designer (Salt Lake City, UT)
Age: 28 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- More projects for the university could mean more work for me, but it's uncertain.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Environmental Consultant (Salt Lake City, UT)
Age: 42 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I hope the university considers environmental sustainability in their expansion plans. It’s an opportunity to set an example.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Student (Salt Lake City, UT)
Age: 29 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- If the university expands, there might be more support services available which would be beneficial for someone like me juggling both school and family.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $1500000 (Low: $1000000, High: $2000000)
Year 2: $100000 (Low: $50000, High: $150000)
Year 3: $100000 (Low: $50000, High: $150000)
Year 5: $100000 (Low: $50000, High: $150000)
Year 10: $100000 (Low: $50000, High: $150000)
Year 100: $100000 (Low: $50000, High: $150000)
Key Considerations
- Opportunity costs arise as the federal government forfeits any potential revenue from renting or selling the land.
- Potential administrative costs are minimal and constitute the primary federal expenditure in executing the land transfer.
- The University of Utah's use of the land for research can bolster local economies and provide long-term indirect economic benefits.
- Without monetizing the transaction, the bill represents the federal government extending a non-monetary asset to a public educational institution.