Salt Lake County's $128 million recreation bond holds a wide lead in unofficial election returns, putting 30 park and trail projects on track for funding.

Unofficial results as of 11:01 p.m. on Nov. 3 showed the measure winning 61.8% to 38.2%, The Salt Lake Tribune reported. KSL confirmed a similar margin based on more than 243,000 ballots counted. The results are not final. County Clerk Lannie Chapman told KSL that thousands of ballots remained to be counted, and the county must certify results later this month.

The bond would fund 30 projects across Salt Lake County's regional parks, trails, open spaces and recreation facilities, according to the county's bond page. Holladay and Cottonwood Heights residents use several county-managed parks and trails in the area, and the bond covers the same property-tax rate they already pay.

The Salt Lake County Council approved placing the bond on the ballot in August. About $62.3 million would go toward new construction, including an all-abilities playground at Library Square in Salt Lake City, an athletic complex in Herriman and a recreation center in West Jordan, according to the Tribune. Nearly $36 million would fund repairs and upgrades to existing facilities. The remaining roughly $30 million would finish construction already underway and cover project contingency costs.

Residents should not see a tax increase. The new bonds would replace debt from a similar 2016 bond that is nearly paid off. The county estimates the annual cost at roughly $16.39 for a primary residence valued at $658,000, the same rate residents already pay on the expiring bonds. That works out to a net property tax change of $0.

One additional cost looms. The county projects average annual operations and maintenance expenses of about $4.7 million per year during the first 10 years. The county said it will determine during its next budget cycle whether that requires budget cuts or a tax increase.

Salt Lake County voters have approved similar general obligation bonds every 10 years since 1996, according to the Tribune. Those bonds are repaid through property taxes and provide upfront funding for large infrastructure projects. Final certification of the Nov. 3 results is expected later this month.