Salt Lake County happy to adopt healthy adjusted numbers

With the economy looking up and Salt Lake County in excellent fiscal shape, Thursday's adjusted budget adoption meeting was an exercise in good feelings.

The positive vibes were particularly notable given that the budget adjustments come on the heels of the "guzzle-gate" scandal that has had county government tied up in knots the past several weeks.

"This comes in a maelstrom of the lowest opinion the public has ever had of us," Councilman Randy Horiuchi said. "It's depressing. (But) all of these incredible things we're doing (make the scandal) pale in comparison."

Monetarily the county is in such good shape that residents of the unincorporated areas — a small minority of county residents — will be seeing a tax cut of 4 percent in their municipal-services taxes.

Councilman Joe Hatch originally proposed the tax cut last November, but a majority of council members demurred until they saw how the numbers shook out.

The council adopts its yearly budget on a calendar year, but makes midyear adjustments in June.

The biggest departure from county Mayor Nancy Workman's proposed budget adjustments was the council's denial of a requested $1.6 million to open the Oxbow Jail as a supplement to the bursting-at-the-seams Adult Detention Center, something pushed hard by Sheriff Aaron Kennard.

"Our vote on the jail was not anti-sheriff," Hatch said. "It was proactive. We're going to be tough on crime, but we're not going to do it at the expense of the taxpayer."

The council wants to explore alternatives to incarceration such as treatment programs, electronic monitoring and work programs before opening up more jail space.

The new United Fire Authority — a cooperation between county and cities — is fiscally affecting the county's monies, creating a need to cut almost $500,000 in overhead expenses from other county departments over the next six months. Incorporations and annexations also are reducing tax base.

Nevertheless, Horiuchi, a longtime veteran of county government, noted with pleased amazement that "in all the years I've been here, we have the best balance of spending and revenue. . . . Fiscally, we're as responsible now as we've ever been."

In addition to the tax cut, the council has pledged not to take advantage of certified tax rates coming down from the state that might provide a windfall of revenue, based on the Utah State Tax Commission's interpretation of recent legislation.

"We will lower taxes to the necessary extent to eliminate the windfall portion," Council Chairman Steve Harmsen said.

In a written response to the budget adjustments, mayoral candidate Peter Corroon departed from fellow Democrat Hatch regarding the wisdom of the tax cut.

"One must question giving such a tiny tax cut, its timing, and the possible results," Corroon said in a statement, noting that the cut equals out to less than $1 a month for a $175,000 home. "The time for a tax cut is when the coffers are overflowing, not when things are still tight."

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