Money already has been located in the proposed budget for nearly $300,000 worth of additional requests from department heads — including $100,000 to boost police coverage.

The proposed budget calls for the city to increase its contract with the Salt Lake County Sheriff's Office by one full-time position, giving the city the equivalent of 3.5 full-time deputies.

City leaders have discussed increasing police coverage by two full-time positions, though that would require locating another $100,000 in the budget.

"I'm comfortable with one more (deputy) this year," Councilman Bill Maxwell said.

The city has been contracting for 2.5 sheriff's deputies, which isn't enough to provide around-the-clock police coverage. That has drawn criticism from officials in neighboring Riverton and Herriman, who've complained that deputies contracted for their cities are spending too much time responding to calls in Bluffdale.

In January, Herriman Mayor Lynn Crane issued an ultimatum in a letter to members of the Bluffdale City Council, telling them to immediately find additional funding for law enforcement or prepare to lose police support from neighbors.

Crane specifically requested that one deputy to be added immediately and that the city bring its total to four deputies by July of this year or January 2008.

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