Utah County faces cuts; tax hike next?

PROVO — For the first time in a dozen years, Utah County commissioners might approve a tax increase.

At the same time, Provo Mayor Lewis Billings had city department leaders shave spending by 10 percent.

Such problems are confronting most political leaders in an economy that has shrunk enough to fit comfortably in a size-0 dress.

Provo's spending cuts are a reaction to news the city will likely receive $1.1 million less in sales tax revenue than projected in June.

Utah continues to fare better than many states, but that's little consolation for government leaders walking a budget tightrope that increasingly feels like a razor blade. For example, lodging tax income for Provo is down 26 percent, Billings told the City Council this week.

"I'm not trying to come in here and be all negative and gloom and doom," the mayor said, "but we still don't know where this bottoms out."

Utah County Commissioner Larry Ellertson is agonizing over the possible need to raise taxes.

Commissioner Steve White said he will vote against a tax hike, while Commissioner Gary Anderson said he will vote for an increase — he suggested 8 to 10 percent, or about $20 on a $250,000 home.

Ellertson might have to break the tie.

A year ago, the commission approved a budget of $85.7 million for 2008. Ellertson said actual spending for the year will be between $78 million and $80 million.

The commissioners are targeting a heavily reduced $70.3 million budget for 2009. They have asked every department to propose cuts.

Initially, they asked Sheriff James Tracy to slash $11 million from his budget. He said no.

"That shuts the lights off and puts a for-sale sign on the door," he said. "That would have meant 44 positions."

As it is, he will have to cut 18 positions and scrap the dreams for 17 new patrol cars, plus eliminate almost all training for 2009.

Tracy was able to offer up $5.922 million in cuts — roughly 17 percent of his budget and the biggest cut he can remember.

"But that's as far as I can (go)," he said. "Every dollar now represents personnel. There's nothing else left to cut in the operational budget."

The cuts mean 13 fewer officers patrolling the 1,800 square miles of unincorporated Utah County, Tracy said. It also means fewer officers assigned to the Major Crimes and Sex Crimes Task Forces.