Others asked that commissioners fix what appears to be a broken appraisal system in Davis County.

"We were elected to help you find answers," said Downs, who added she was surprised at how valuations played out this year.

And when Downs offered to share explanations for some of the questions residents raised, the crowd declined to hear them.

Various attendees voiced support for a Proposition 13-type law, which would limit the amount property could be taxed until it was sold.

Gordon Tyler told commissioners there are homeowners in California (where Proposition 13 was passed) with $650,000 homes who pay $1,300 a year in property taxes.

"I would bet my bottom dollar if Governor Huntsman's mother was losing her home (to taxes) we'd have Proposition 13 here in 30 days," Tyler said.

Many residents also urged commissioners to seek out and cut waste from county operations, which commissioners plan to do this year.

Millburn said because he took office in January, he hasn't had a chance to set the county's budget, a process that will happen over the next few months.

But he's been taking careful notes over the past seven months.

"I have a lot of questions (for department heads)," he said.

Hansen said the county has taken measures to reduce costs over the past few years.

In 2006, the county folded Animal Services into the Davis County Sheriff's Office, and it folded Senior Services and weatherization into the Davis County Health Department, a savings of about $400,000.

The wellness program for county employees will save $500,000 in insurance premiums, and renting jail beds for state and federal inmates will save $2.8 million in 2007 with an average of $2 million over the next four years.

The county also uses minimum-risk inmates for labor on county property, which saves $1.3 million a year.

At least two residents asked commissioners to reconsider their $100,000-a-year paychecks when budget time comes around, and commissioners said they would.

Various residents also complained about the Davis School District's newest high school in Syracuse even though county commissioners have no control over what schools the district builds.

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E-mail: jdougherty@desnews.com