Midvale exploring idea of contracting police, fire services

MIDVALE — In an effort to avoid raising taxes, Midvale is looking at the possibility of contracting some of its services, including police and fire.

The city estimates it could save $2.3 million by no longer running its own police and fire departments, against a $2 million deficit in its proposed 2011-12 budget.

The public will have an opportunity to address the City Council at a public hearing Thursday, April 21 at 7 p.m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall, 655 W. Center.

"We have been directed by the City Council to look at a variety of ways to trim our budget. One of the ways is to contract services," said Midvale Mayor JoAnn Seghini.

For two of the past three years, Midvale has been forced to raise taxes. But Seghini said continuously raising property taxes is not going to get them out of their financial problems.

"If we don't find a way (to solve the problem), we're going to have a tax increase every year, forever."

The option being explored is joining the Unified Police Department and Unified Fire Authority. Both serve multiple suburban Salt Lake cities and unincorporated areas of Salt Lake County.

Seghini said the bottom line for her office is to save jobs and still provide the same level of service that Midvale residents have come to expect. But she said the budget is at a point that something will have to be done this year, whether it's another tax increase, contracting of services or a "multifaceted approach."

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