HEBER CITY — Utah County may have opted out of participation in Mountainland Association of Governments, but the association's executive council says the county can't opt out of paying the bills.

Though the two entities' budgets are based on different fiscal years — the county's begins in January and MAG's in July — the county has yet to ante up about $30,000 that commissioners agreed last May to pay this past January.

The county has not officially refused to pay, and no substantial discussion has taken place between the two entities about payment. But Utah County has typically paid its portion of the MAG budget in January, which puts the bill three months overdue.

MAG executive council members agreed with association attorneys that the county is obligated to pay up. The association is made up of mayors and county commissioners from Utah, Wasatch and Summit counties.

"It's an obligation, and they need to honor it," said Lindon Mayor Jeff Ascerson. "I don't know how they've justified it."

The council also decided that if the county wishes to continue to participate as a voting member on the transportation planning committee, it should contribute about $13,000 for the coming fiscal year.

County Commission Chairman Jerry Grover could not be reached for comment.

The council also decided to send state Aging Services director Alan Ormsby a letter supporting MAG as the provider of aging services for Utah County.

The state is evaluating a petition from Utah County to take over aging services in the county.

A month ago, MAG appointed a task force to study its aging services, composed of MAG mayors and commissioners, as well as aging services officials from Salt Lake and Davis Counties. The task force concluded that if the present area agency on aging for Wasatch, Summit and Utah Counties — which MAG supervises — were split in two, the remaining funding available to Wasatch and Summit counties would not support the services needed.

"I would suggest that it's impossible to really operate an area agency and provide the needed programs if a second administrative agency is created to oversee programs that are currently being overseen by one area agency," said MAG aging services director Scott McBeth.

The council also briefly discussed an audit request submitted last week by Sen. Curt Bramble, R-Provo, at the urging of Utah County commissioners. The legislative auditor is now deciding whether to recommend a full audit of MAG's use of community development block grant funds to finance its office building in 1997.

Council chairman Mayor Fritz Boyer of Springville wasn't opposed to the state auditor examining the matter, and even suggested that the office conduct a more thorough review of MAG finances to clear up any future concerns on the part of Utah County.

"It seems like, with the county, the target keeps shifting," Boyer said.

Bramble, who attended to meeting to field questions, expressed a desire for consensus between MAG and the county.

"I think it would be healthy to find some common ground," he said.

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E-mail: mdecker@desnews.com