Battle budget ends quietly in Salt Lake County

A week-long verbal battle ended quietly Tuesday, as the Salt Lake County Council finalized a deal with Mayor Peter Corroon to avoid a budget veto.

In the end, the council slashed $175,000 from Republican District Attorney Lohra Miller's budget. Corroon had threatened to veto for the first time in his three years in office if the Republican-dominated council didn't cut at least three or four positions from Miller's budget.

Corroon said the district attorney's budget increase, coupled with stormy financial forecasts for the upcoming year and other future funding requests, would have put the county at financial odds in 2009 and require a tax increase. Without a cut to Miller's budget, Corroon said he was prepared to use a line-item veto.

The budget battle showed another side of the generally soft-spoken and congenial mayor, who rebuked his Republican colleagues.

"My question for our Republican council members is, 'When is enough enough?"' Corroon said before the compromise was reached. "We're staring a tax increase right in the face for 2009. ... They need to learn some fiscal restraint."

After a day-long negotiation session, both sides came to an agreement last week.

"Can we take a moment to sing Kumbaya?" Councilwoman Jenny Wilson joked on Tuesday. Councilman Jeff Allen obliged, and sang a line or two.

Miller can cut the $175,000 from her budget anywhere she pleases. However, the council and mayor have "strongly encouraged" Miller to keep a domestic violence warrants coordinator, Councilman Jeff Allen said.

The compromise also requires Miller to report back to the council and mayor in mid-January on what positions she intends to fill with the budget increase, and provide performance measures and outcomes for the personnel decisions.

Corroon will also cut $50,000 out of his portfolio and use that money to help pay for a criminal justice master plan. The council already included $685,000 from its coffers to pay for the plan.

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E-mail: ldethman@desnews.com