Davis allocates $7 million tax boost to flood control, jail and Aging Services

When the Davis County Board of Commissioners passed a 37 percent property-tax increase in December 2006 to give extra funding to certain projects, it did so to the chagrin of most of the 80 people who attended a public hearing the week before.

The tax increase, which generated about $7 million this year, was used for flood-control projects, the Davis County Jail and Davis County Aging Services.

Since that time, the current commissioners, two of whom were elected in 2006, heard an earful during 2007 after property values in Bountiful and elsewhere shot up and caused higher-than-expected property taxes.

But department heads who manage the tax increase revenue and are charged with spending it are grateful to commissioners for allowing them to provide better services to Davis County residents.

In 2004, Davis residents voted in favor of bonding to expand the county's 400-bed jail. In 2006, the expansion was completed and the jail began accepting inmates in early 2007.

But $24.8 million in bonds only covered construction.

That expansion required $4.1 million in ongoing funding for increased costs in maintenance and operations, such as heating, air conditioning, electricity and other utilities.

But the two biggest operational costs are food and medical expenses for 750 to 820 inmates, said Keith Major, business manager for the sheriff's office.

The sheriff's office also hired 90 jail employees such as deputies, clerks and nurses, he said.

Former Davis County Public Works director Tom Smith made a successful case with commissioners for fixing the county's ailing flood-control system, a series of 19 canals, creeks and drains across the county that divert runoff from neighborhoods.

Smith's photos of sinkholes on major thoroughfares and eroding flood channels spurred commissioners to infuse his department with $1.7 million.

And 2007 was a busy year, said Kirk Schmalz, who became the department's acting director when Smith retired in December.

The department spent $119,000 on design work for projects in Centerville, Woods Cross and North Salt Lake.

Two of those projects — Main Street in Centerville and 2600 South in Woods Cross — were completed this year.

Construction on the Woods Cross project was budgeted at $617,000, though rising construction costs caused Schmalz and Smith to cut the construction of a debris basin from the project.

"The taxpayers got a good project this year," he said.