RIVERTON — The latest proposal from the Salt Lake County Sheriff's Office may be enough to keep Riverton from forming its own police force — at least for three years.

The proposal, presented to the Riverton City Council on Tuesday, calls for Riverton to have its own sheriff's precinct and includes the promise of no operational cost increases for the second and third years of a three-year contract.

"That's a real bonus, a real positive thing in trying to control costs," Riverton Mayor Bill Applegarth said.

For several months, Riverton has been studying the pros and cons of forming its own police force and no longer contracting with the county for law enforcement.

Applegarth said he and other city leaders have wanted more local control over Riverton's law enforcement, and they weren't happy with the shared-coverage arrangement with neighboring Bluffdale, Herriman and unincorporated Salt Lake County.

Applegarth specifically pointed a finger at Bluffdale, which lacks 24-hour police coverage.

"One of our concerns has consistently been we are continuing to go into Bluffdale and help with its policing," he said. "That's a drain on our resources."

Salt Lake County Sheriff Jim Winder said making Riverton its own precinct solves both issues. Riverton would no longer have to share resources with its neighbors, except in the case of an emergency, and the city would have a precinct commander who would work directly with the mayor, City Council and other city officials.

Other benefits, the sheriff said, are the quality and cost of service. The sheriff's office has proposed 26- and 28-deputy staffs for the Riverton precinct at operational costs of $3 million and $3.4 million, respectively.

If Riverton had its own police force, it would cost the city about $300,000 more in annual operational costs, plus about $1.7 million in start-up costs, according to estimates by Bonneville Research.

"We can provide service at somewhat of a reduced rate because of our economy of scale," Winder said. "There is no way for other jurisdictions to do it as economically."

The Riverton City Council will discuss the contract and its law-enforcement plans at its Aug. 7 meeting and could make a decision at that time.

"In fairness to the sheriff's office, we need to make a decision as soon as we can," Applegarth said.

If Riverton chooses to stay with the sheriff's office and become its own precinct, Winder said, Herriman also would benefit, because deputies contracted there will be able to spend more time in the city.