Utah County OKs 2006 budget with no tax hikes
Utah County commissioners unanimously approved the $62.2 million budget that will take effect on Jan. 1 and run through Dec. 31, 2006.
And good news, Utah County residents: It doesn't call for any tax increases.
The initial budget proposal presented Nov. 6 to the Utah County Commission by Clerk/Auditor Kim Jackson listed expenditures exceeding revenues by $4.7 million. During a month's worth of meetings between Jackson, county commissioners and department heads, all but $2.45 million of that shortfall was accounted for either through additional revenue sources or cutbacks.
To make up the difference, the commission opted to dip into the county's surplus fund balance.
Minor cuts across the board allowed the commission to balance the budget without eliminating any existing programs, said Commission Chairman Jerry Grover.
"For the most part, it was just little reductions all over the place," Grover said. "We asked departments to whittle down what they could, and that's what most of them did. It was mostly that they just didn't get the increases they wanted in certain programs that they were wanting to expand."
One of the more significant cuts was the $250,000 taken from the $1.14 million budgeted for elections.
Jackson included in the proposed budget funds to cover the costs associated with changes the state Legislature is considering making to the Utah election code to allow for early voting. Such changes would permit voters to vote up to two weeks before Election Day.
"We decided not to include it until the Legislature actually approves it," Grover said.
A near $15 million chunk of the 2006 budget is locked up by the county jail, covering expenditures such as housing, support services and programs.
On the revenue side, property taxes are expected to generate $13.3 million in 2006 up from $12.9 million in 2005. The additional money is expected to come from continuing commercial and residential development in the county.
The county's 2005 budget, after a midyear adjustment, totaled $66.8 million.
E-mail: jpage@desnews.com
Comments
- Kirk Douglas classic on DVD 11:38 a.m.
- Zion fire moving southeast 11:36 a.m.
- More school-money than expected 11:24 a.m.
- Virginia 'Freedman's' project done 11:12 a.m.
- Teen relive Mormon trek 11:12 a.m.
- Oldest American to scale Mount Everest 11:07 a.m.
- Knicks sign first-round pick 10:59 a.m.
- Armstrong third, Leipheimer fourthe 10:58 a.m.
- 6.0 quake in China 10:43 a.m.
- Big Ben celebrates 150 years 10:42 a.m.
- Jazz brass debate Millsap match
- LDS seminary principal arrested
- 2 men cited on LDS plaza
- Jazz finances not quite so bleak
- HBO defends U. logo use in 'Love'
- Reactions on Boozer speculation
- Cash for Clunkers to get rolling soon
- Utahns among Texans' investors
- Man spots his stolen car
- Jazz rookies quiet Thunder youngsters
- LDS seminary principal arrested
244 - Jazz brass debate Millsap match
155 - Bronco collecting a galaxy of recruits
141 - Jazz talking Boozer trade?
139 - Blazers may offer Millsap a contract
124 - 2 men cited on LDS plaza
114 - Stadium of Fire flag burning was fake
95 - Fairness of BCS debated
81 - Chaffetz eyes challenging Bennett
76 - Letters: Single-payer system best
75
As more and more dads are put out of work in this economy, I've been...
The photographs are mysterious, brooding, dark. They show dimples and...
I know who makes money off the warming opponents, the oil companies. But who...
Very true, this store is indicative of the Gay Rights Movement. They are not...
To the 10:23 commentator, If any comments on this board make you want to...
I'm with all those that remind us that in this country it is supposed to be...
A lot of comments are mentioning "innocent until proven guilty". Legally,...
Anonymous, Don't trust anything out of Texas. That's right behind don't...
I wonder if Harry Potter fans are waving their wands and casting spells on me...
I agree with Albatross. Clooney is a pretty stand up guy it seems and if and...
Now I know how to treat the Mormon missionaries when they show up at my door...
For a religion that was persecuted nearly to non-existence more than 100...


You can be the first to comment on this story.