S.L. County sheriff says Taylorsville could slash its police costs

TAYLORSVILLE — Salt Lake County Sheriff Jim Winder told the Taylorsville City Council on Wednesday that the city could save more than $700,000 a year by becoming full partners in the newly formed Unified Police District.

If the city were to join the first-ever attempt at a valley-wide metro police agency, it would be the biggest municipal participant.

The city already has a contract with the UPD for some services, including special weapons services and dispatches. It also has a vote on the controlling board of the metro agency but has chosen to retain its own police department.

Taylorsville Mayor Russ Wall questions some of Winder's assumptions that add up to the $700,000 savings, saying his figures would likely be "less optimistic." Still, Wall said he is in favor of consolidated services if the model can be achieved at lower costs.

The mayor and his staff will perform an analysis on Winder's proposal before making a recommendation to the City Council, Wall said. The study will focus on strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats to the city.

In April 2005, Taylorsville pulled away from contracting with the county sheriff to form its own police department. At the time, local control of costs was a major issue, but service levels were not, said Taylorsville city manager John Inch Morgan.

On Wednesday, Winder agreed that the county wasn't ready four years ago to offer contracting services. Now, though, control of the UPD is not in the county's hands; it's in the purview of the administrative board, which is made up of local elected officials.

During Winder's presentation to the council, he said law enforcement staffing levels could be maintained if the city switched over to the UPD, with a first-year cost savings of $232,896.

Winder also promised "collateral" savings in liability coverage at $200,000, employee service reserve fund at $133,985 savings, human resources support at $50,000 savings and legal support at $77,000 savings, plus fleet support at $220,000.

Those functions, which the city funds now, would be covered by the UPD, he said. That would create time savings for city employees, though the city would still have to fill positions such as an attorney and a human resources professional.

"When you free yourself up from duties, you free yourself up from costs," Winder said.