Shortfall forces Davis to trim operating costs

FARMINGTON — Only two months remain in this budget year, but because of a $2 million revenue shortfall, Davis County has been forced to trim its operating budget by 1.8 percent.

Based on revenue projections, county officials say additional cuts won't be needed next year. But that doesn't mean an end to financial headaches: Next year, Davis County residents may be asked to absorb a property tax increase to help operate the newly expanded county jail.

To cover operating costs for the expansion, county officials estimate the increase would need to be about $35 a year on a $167,000 home. The project itself is being paid for with $24.8 million in general obligation bonds approved by voters in 2004.

County Clerk/Auditor Steve Rawlings says the possible tax increase will be a topic of debate as next year's budget is prepared.

On Nov. 1, Rawlings plans to present a budget proposal to county commissioners. On Dec. 15, the county is scheduled to hold a public hearing on the budget. After the hearing, commissioners will likely approve the budget.

Said Rawlings: "I don't think there will be any surprises, but one of the questions we will need to ask is whether we need a tax increase to open the jail expansion at the end of 2006."

Davis Commissioner Dannie McConkie said he is hopeful that this year's budget cuts, albeit minimal, will resonate with voters — particularly in light of the possible tax increase next year.

The cuts, he said, were the right thing to do.

"We know we're looking at a tax increase in the near future, and when we do that, we know that people are going to ask us whether we've been responsible . . . We need to do this and need to try and make sure people can't point to a particular (budget) area and say there is fluff and fat."

Davis County's operating budget this year is just over $70 million. Next year's budget will be in the same range.

Most Davis County department heads had few complaints about this year's budget cuts; departments are traditionally asked to "run their budget lean," Rawlings said. Impacts depend on how frugal the departments have been.

In total, about $1.3 million was cut from department budgets this year. Actual cuts over the next two months will total around $290,000 because departments had already made cuts to their budgets throughout the year, according to Rawlings. Most departments have run with a surplus.