SALT LAKE CITY (AP) _ English is now the state's official language. Sixty-seven percent of voters approved an initiative requiring the state's government to operate almost exclusively in English.

In addition, voters in Davis and Salt Lake decided to add fluoride to their water supplies. Davis County approved the measure 52 percent to 48 percent. In Salt Lake, it passed 59 percent to 41 percent.

Mass transit will now become much more of a factor against sprawl. A quarter-cent-per-dollar hike in the sales tax for transit expansion was approved in Salt Lake, Davis and Weber counties.

In Weber County, the tax was approved 53 percent to 47 percent. In Davis County, it won 58 percent to 42 percent.

And in Salt Lake, it was approved 54 percent to 46.

In addition, police will have a harder time seizing property involved in crimes after a statewide initiative was passed with 69 percent voting in favor.

And lawmakers will have a trust fund for the tobacco settlement windfall after 61 percent of voters adopted a constitutional amendment creating the fund. Half of that money will be used by the Legislature when needed while the rest will stay in the fund to earn interest.

Until Tuesday, when two citizens' initiatives were passed, Utah voters had only approved two initiatives in the past 40 years. But getting initiatives those on the ballot was not cheap this year.

The official English initiative was bankrolled by the Washington D.C.-based U.S. English, which spent more than $136,640 _ a majority of which was spent on the petition drive. Opponents raised $42,123.

Those backing the property forfeiture measure spent the most money to get on the ballot. Utahns for Property Protection, which backed the property seizure initiative, spent $716,323.

The Utah Coalition to Stop Drug Dealer Profits spent just $14,552 fighting the initiative.

One of the most contentious ballot measures was the official English initiative, the proposal to prohibit _ with some exceptions _ state and local agencies from conducting government business or printing information in any language except English.

Supporters contended it would prod immigrants to quickly assimilate and give the government a guideline on how to handle foreign languages.

Gov. Mike Leavitt, his challenger Bill Orton, Sen. Orrin Hatch and Salt Lake City Mayor Rocky Anderson were among those opposed to the initiative. Anderson called it racist.

Carol Gnade, director of the Utah chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union, said the group would "likely" file a lawsuit claiming violation of equal protection and freedom of speech.

The fluoride measure highlighted Utah's status as the second-least fluoridated state, behind Nevada.

While opponents argued fluoridation amounts to medicating the water, backers said the lack of fluoride is causing a high rate of cavities among Utah's children.

The Utah Transit Authority said the increase in the transit tax will fund Sunday and holiday bus and rail service, a commuter rail from Ogden to Salt Lake City and additional light rail lines.

Some of those against proposal contended improved transit should not be tied to sales tax.

As for the property forfeiture measure, backers argued police have abused forfeiture laws and reform is needed to protect innocent people whose property has been seized. The measure would require money from the sales of property to go to schools instead of police departments.

It was opposed by the state's county attorneys who say it would hurt law enforcement agencies' fight against drug dealers.

(Copyright 2000 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)