Beer tax is paying dividends

Cities and counties across Utah received $5.4 million in 2008 to combat alcohol-related offenses.

They organized overtime shifts for police officers to intercept people who were driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. They taught DARE programs. They prosecuted and they got convictions.

And right now, those cities and counties — including 181 that received more than $1,000 — are in the process of proving to the state why they should receive those funds again.

Agencies that received a part of the $5.4 million have until Oct. 1 to submit a report to the Utah Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice detailing their use of alcohol funds during the fiscal year.

Failure to do so could result in funds being distributed elsewhere, though that's rare, says Monica Taylor, an administrative assistant at CCJJ.

So far, 44 reports have been turned in, and Taylor said she likes what she sees. Utah cities and counties are very good about abiding by the law that set up the beer tax, she said.

The beer tax, $12.80 per 31-gallon barrel, was established in 1983 to distribute funds on a formula basis for alcohol-related law enforcement, prosecution, education, prevention and treatment programs.

Nine of the largest local governments in the state received more than $100,000, while most cities received less than $10,000.

Salt Lake County came out on top with more than $740,000, followed by Salt Lake City with $444,112, Utah County with $363,794, Davis County with $190,728 and Weber County with $166,282.

Ogden is the city with the largest allocation whose report has been submitted, Taylor said. Out of Ogden's $158,408 allocation, it spent $120,000 on DUI law enforcement, according to its report.

Ogden employs two police officers who are committed to DUI law, though the remaining 10 officers in the traffic division and 60-plus officers in patrol also enforce DUI laws and alcohol-related offenses.

The city also pays the wages of two DARE officers who work in the Ogden City School District and for materials used in the DARE program.

Ogden also spent $107,000 of its general tax revenue related to alcohol enforcement, the report states.

Midvale is the only city in Salt Lake County whose report has been submitted. It received a little more than $51,000 from the beer tax and spent $33,100 of its own money on alcohol enforcement.