Deseret News | Salt Lake County residents to be billed for police

Reader comments
Salt Lake County residents to be billed for police

MB | 10:42 p.m. Nov. 5, 2009

OUTRAGE! how much is it costing to make the transfer to UPD? To serve what purpose? There is really no difference between the what the S.O. does now and what the UPD will do. So why are we paying a fee for deficit when the county is making such a big change. Seriously? someone make sense of all this, please? doesn't it seem reasonable to put the change on hold until the county can actually pay for it?

NB | 11:14 p.m. Nov. 5, 2009

Do you know for a fact that it is costing money to become part of UPD?

Is your check in the mail? | 1:13 a.m. Nov. 6, 2009

Hope you're happy, Utahns. This is exactly what you asked for; less government socialism and more capitalism.

Education could be next, so get ready for it now.

Comments continue below

JAFO2008 | 1:31 a.m. Nov. 6, 2009

It's the same thing that happened when SL Co Fire switched to the Unified Fire Authority a few years ago. You pretty much get taxed the same, it's just collected differetnly.

Want all this nonsense to end? Push for a Valley Wide Metro Police department. Too many chiefs, not enough Indians & public safety suffers for it.

Re: MB | 1:34 a.m. Nov. 6, 2009

The UPD costs exactly the same as the Sheriff's Office did. That was one of the requirements of the law that the Legislature passed to create the UPD. How'd you expect law enforcement to be paid for when the UPD left the County? Fairy Dust?

Will it ever end? | 3:28 a.m. Nov. 6, 2009

Why doesn't all these government agency's just file a chapter 7 or 11 bankruptcy like ever one else does when they are bankrupt? Business would love it if they could just tell everyone they will be taxing the citizens to avoid failure.

Every Tom, Dick, and Harry in government has become independent taxing entity and this is very unconstitutional. This is a massive scale of wrongful taxation. When our constitution was created and approved it was supposed to have eliminated King George's type of government and taxation without representation. These government kingdom's and our legislators must be met with citizens outrage.

Government continues to harbor, aid, and abet criminal elements in our country from Mexico who are destroying our american way of life and government. This is what socialist government is all about, and the american people have lost control of it. We wouldn't need hundreds of policemen to maintain law and order among these criminal illegals if they were deported with prejudice.

Anonymous | 7:12 a.m. Nov. 6, 2009

This is an excellent example that no matter what happens to tax revenues and the broader economy, government only gets bigger. This is why we should be so cautious to expand government in any form.

1Observer | 7:17 a.m. Nov. 6, 2009

I am not a big fan of the UPD as it is currently constructed, but it wouldn't be fair to blame them for this "fee" (TAX!). What has happened is that shrinking sales tax revenue without commensurate budget cuts in the county is leading to a property tax increases. Rather than capturing all of that deficit in property taxes, the county council and Mayor Corroon have decided to institute the "fee" to broaden the base of taxpayers beyond the property tax payers. Even if UPD had not been created, or as one poster noted we had a valley-wide metro PD, the need for the tax increase would still be there. It has nothing to do with the UPD. It has everything to do with the county spending more than it is collecting in taxes and not being willing or creative enough to cut their budget sufficiently to meet revenue expectations without a tax increase. No matter that the families in Salt Lake County are feeling the economic pain. Since we are already suffering, what's another few hundred dollars a year when we have this large dinosaur to feed.

the facts | 7:55 a.m. Nov. 6, 2009

even if the UPD did not exist, there would be an $11 million budget hole to fill. the upd gives a funding option -- outside of a massive property tax increase. the fee option is much better for residents. if the upd is not formed, then the county will have to raise property taxes to pay for law enforcement services.

Adam Smith | 8:08 a.m. Nov. 6, 2009

Excellent idea! Now do the same with our socialist "public" schools! HEAD TAX please! And don't you even dare to ask for communist vouchers!

Joke | 8:37 a.m. Nov. 6, 2009

What do you expect from the donkey's that lead SLCo. Off load the sheriff from the county's balance sheet but continue to fund thier socialized programs. To our leaders of the county how is the the alternatives to incarceration program working? I thought this program would save the county millions rather than having to reopen oxbow.

How much do you think the so called adminisration for the UPD is going to cost? What a waste of resources.

Keeping taxes down | 9:28 a.m. Nov. 6, 2009

At least they didn't increase your taxes.

natty | 9:30 a.m. Nov. 6, 2009

Did you know that the nation measures crime with a report called the Uniform Crime Statistics? This is an FBI program that aggregates crime data from all States. Get this.. it has been going down steadily for the past 10 years. The FACTS of the matter is there is virtually NO CRIME. You are paying for an unnecessary FEEL GOOD service. This is why most new police cadets are funded via FEDERAL GRANTS, they know the local taxpayers are not going to pay for nothing. This is your nation on a "drug war". Biden/Clinton put 10,000 EXTRA/NOT NEEDED police on the streets as a campaign gimmick. Kind of like NAFTA ;)

DeVel Gedge | 9:32 a.m. Nov. 6, 2009

Two problems with fee approach.
1) A fee is not deductible on tax returns. The property tax is.

2) A fee requires an administrative cost (postage and preparing bank deposit) to collect. The property tax increase is a part of the current system.

Isn't it Interesting | 9:35 a.m. Nov. 6, 2009

That these types of fee increases usually occur RIGHT AFTER the elections?

re: joke | 9:39 a.m. Nov. 6, 2009

I like your idea. Lets take all the cops off the street and close oxbow and close half the jail. Then you and your friends can take care of us. And you dont get a pay raise this year, so its free. I just solved your problem.

they'r never around | 9:57 a.m. Nov. 6, 2009

when i need them all these years other than ticket quotas!

katamb | 10:31 a.m. Nov. 6, 2009

Wow, can't believe it's come to this. Sad, very sad. Better call Obama for a bailout.

to the Highest Bidder | 10:58 a.m. Nov. 6, 2009

This is a great business opportunity for vigilantes to offer police and security services for a fee!

Ever hear of Blackwater? There is good money in being a vigilante or a mercenary! Ask anyone in the Bush Administration! Especially Cheney!

Law enforcement to the highest bidder = only the rich get justice!

Stop duplication | 11:21 a.m. Nov. 6, 2009

Do we really need a layer of overhead between the city and state government? Let's just do away with county government and save millions of dollars in redundant services. The cities and the state can handle everything the counties now do. This isn't the 1800s anymore and we should change an outdated system that is causing us to pay more in taxes.

Roger79 | 11:57 a.m. Nov. 6, 2009

Why not call it a tax. It sounds right to me that we pay for gov't services. And I appreciate the thought that went into a plan to cover those getting the police protection, except that like insurance, a huge company has a larger amount of property protected, especially retailers. But the political twists that demonize the word tax have gotten ridiculous.

Its time to incorporate | 12:40 p.m. Nov. 6, 2009

Whether or not the new fee is justified, the real issue is representation of the residents of unincorporated SL county. Do any of the nine county council people, and Mayor Corroon, live in the unincorporated county? I don't think so. So the people making the decision to assess this fee and the people who should demand accountability from the UPD, don't even live in the area affected by this issue. I would much rather have a city council member, who lives in my neighborhood, making these types of decisions. What is nice about a fee is the fact that every month, when bills are received, unincorporated residents will be reminded of how disenfranchised they have become from their local governmental representation. Its time to throw out the township scam, its time to incorporate.

Just the First Shoe | 12:45 p.m. Nov. 6, 2009

Right around the corner will be a tax hike to pay for a new UPD headquarters building just like the SLC PD just got.

clearview | 1:03 p.m. Nov. 6, 2009

It now becomes clear that draper, taylorsville, cottonwood heights and others were very wise in forming their own
police departments and that Holladay was very unwise but will follow when elected officials
get some courage

Dani | 1:30 p.m. Nov. 6, 2009

Council Chairman Joe Hatch said the new fee makes the most sense in the face of the current economic climate and declining revenues.

Umm Hello dear elected official with the declining ecominic climate and revenues and unemployment at an all time high what makes you think the citizens of unincorporated SLCO can afford this service. I live in Unincorporated SLCO and am struggling daily to make ends meet due to being unable to find work again after being laid off in April. I can not afford the extra and if you want the money go find a damn turnip to get it from. I am with "It's time to incorporate" get an official that lives in area to make these decisions that way it affects them too, and they are more aware of the issues in those areas

art | 2:17 p.m. Nov. 6, 2009

A fee is just a different name for a tax, right?...Do they really think we, the public, are so dumb as not to see this?

Corroon's Halloween Mask | 3:31 p.m. Nov. 6, 2009

Since Mayor Corroon has decided to run for Governor his priorities have changed. It isn't very voter friendly to raise taxes, which haven't been raised in 12 years... but there is a county shortfall that has to be funded!! So Mayor Corroon goes thru the back door to collect his shortfall by cutting all County Employees pay by 2&3/4% come January 2010. That gives him a chunk, but not quite enough. So in the past couple of weeks the Mayor devised a plan to supplement his shortfall by a proposed 10% fee to SL County Tax Payers and names it "The cost of the new UPD" just so he can say he didn't raise our taxes! Lets call these tatics what they really should be...a tax hike, but do it above board! The UPD has been in the works since July with a contract that does not include any additional costs to Salt Lake County Tax payers. Mayor Corroon knows that and he lies to suggest otherwise! This UPD has a different structure than the old proposal of a few years ago. Everyone will save $$$. Mayor Corroon take off your Halloween mask!

what? | 6:31 p.m. Nov. 6, 2009

Corroon's made no official decision about running for governor, and he was very upfront about the reasoning for the rise in property taxes. He raised taxes AFTER cutting the county budget by 20%.

If and when Corroon runs I will support him.

Lady Law Enforcer | 7:28 p.m. Nov. 6, 2009

Wonder how Beau Babka feels about this? Let's ask a leader.

There is no way Winder didn't know this train was headed in this taxing (higher) direction!!! Why so coy, Winder? He's trying to throw responsibility for this to the Council? Don't get distracted people. It's his and his political hacks idea!

The current sheriff is incapable of managing and leading in this, a very dynamic time. He's closed two pods in the jail to open two pods at Oxbow (just to say he opened Oxbow) and sold this UPD idea. UPD is a half-funded mandate that the citizens, and city officials couldn't possibly understand. And, now, we're going to shift and raise taxes? The sheriff doesn't understand it (UPD). He doesn't understand policing, politics and operational objectives of community policing. He's, single handed, alienated most police chief's and mayors in the valley.

Leave my Sheriff's Office alone for now! The once proud organization is being ripped apart by the sheriff and those that have never asked their constituents what they want.

The Good Part | 9:31 p.m. Nov. 6, 2009

is that crime will go down. Many people will not report when they have been the victim of crime because it will cost them money to report. That makes them victimized twice, once by the bad guy and once by an inept government. Unbelievable.

More cost, marginal service | 7:52 a.m. Nov. 7, 2009

Winder has failed again. This is just another example of why Winder is an incompetent boob! He says "I didn't know anything about it." I call BS.

A fee is a tax. Holiday residents who claimed they did not want Cottonwood Heights to do you police work, just wait, your "fees" are about to skyrocket!

What is worse all the employees are disgruntled because of the pay cuts they will have to take. What kind of motivated cops there will be with the UPD, just more marginal employees from the county.

Make no mistake that UPD is nothing more than smoke and mirrors. It is the Sheriff's Office under a new name with no taxing accountabilty. That is why the formed a "district." Higher fees, same marginal service.

Whenwillitend? | 3:31 p.m. Nov. 7, 2009

If you want to see what the UPD will do to your taxes, look at the UFA. They have been around for five years with four years of tax increases! When will the insanity and insatiable appetite for taxation end?

Disgusted | 4:47 p.m. Nov. 9, 2009

Great! Now I will buy stock in KrispeyCreme. You are the ones that are paying for the donuts...

Don't pay it | 4:39 p.m. Nov. 18, 2009

Why not just include it in the property tax? If I get an extra bill for this I'm just not going to pay the bill and take my chances.

Disparate between rich and poor. | 5:06 p.m. Nov. 18, 2009

The rich on the east bench can afford this, the poor on the west bench cannot.

The west bench gets about a fourth of the law enforcement attention that the east bench gets, but now, we are going to pay equally, but let the rich get protection and let the poor duke it out?

This is bad governance, plain and simple.

Magna needs new sidewalks, plain and simple. We need more deputies, MORE OFTEN, plain and simple. If we are going to pay the same, then we should GET the same.

Ciao

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