With little fanfare or opposition Thursday night, the Davis County Commission unanimously approved an $84.5 million budget for the 2005 fiscal year.

Some 20 residents and county employees attended the hearing, with two commenting on issues ranging from the Davis County Conference Center to the amount of new hires approved in the budget.

One Bountiful resident reminded commissioners of their responsibility to be fiscally responsible for those living on a fixed income.

"The citizens of Davis County may have voted for the bond, but they didn't vote for the commission to write another blank check," said Ron Mortensen, from the group Citizens for Tax Fairness. "What we're counting on you folks to do is to keep a handle on the money available."

Commission Chairman Dannie McConkie assured the man and said, "We have committed ourselves to be as frugal as we can."

The 2005 budget marks the second year in a row Davis County leaders have shied away from raising taxes. The last increase came in the 2003 budget and angered residents, causing many of them to vote to oust Commissioner Michael Cragun during the 2004 election.

Richard Watson, a Bountiful resident who chairs the Davis County Democrats, said he was concerned about a possible expansion of the conference center and how that would affect taxes.

Expansion could happen but not anytime soon, Commissioner Carol Page said. Page said county leaders were surprised at the immediate success of the conference center. The county has turned away multiple groups who have wanted to host meetings at the center because of lack of exhibition space, Page said.

"There is not a rush to do this, it is a wish," McConkie said. "Sometime in the future it's possible there would be an expansion."

The budget includes $13 million to pay for expansion of the jail. Voters approved a bond to pay for the $24.8 million addition in November.

The county is currently paying off the bond that paid for construction of the jail, which opened in 1991. Payment for the new addition will begin in 2006 at the same rate taxpayers are paying on the old jail bond, Davis County Clerk/Auditor Steve Rawlings said.

Davis County residents will see increased paramedic service after commissioners approved $2 million of the budget to add more paramedic trucks throughout the county. Layton will now have two total paramedic units, the Davis County Sheriff's Office will have four, and the newly created South Davis Metro Fire Agency will add two paramedic units.

"Our population kinda outgrew the services," McConkie said. "It's been a tough budget issue."

The budget includes financial incentives for employees who participate in a wellness program to improve their health, Rawlings said. County employees will also receive a 2 percent cost of living adjustment for the upcoming year.

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E-mail: ldethman@desnews.com