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Show County budget yields no tax hike By SCOrsUMMKKlLL FARMINGTON Residents won't see a change in their taxes if the proposed $32.3 million Davis County budget is adopted, but substantial changes in the spending of several departments are anticipated. an-ticipated. To keep tax rates at the same level as 1990, most departments took at least a small cut in funding. But, there is a 3 percent cost of liv- r ing increase and an average 1.4 percent per-cent merit increase for employees. In addition, the county estimates a 2.5 percent increase in the tax base for 1991. Taxpayers will have the opportunity oppor-tunity to provide input on the proposed pro-posed budget during a public hearing hear-ing scheduled for Dec. 1 1 , at 7 p.m. in the Farmington Courthouse Commission Chambers, room 126. The proposed budget is available for public examination in the county coun-ty auditor's office. , The current proposed budget is down from the $44.5 million expended ex-pended by the county this year but includes just $2 millio for the new jail, compared with $13.5 million expended in 1990. The most visible budget change is in the Sheriffs Department, which will require a shift in manpower man-power and staffing with the opening of the new jail facility. The Sheriff's 4 'operating k budget" is proposed at $1,893,695. Other departments that fall under control of the Sheriff with separate budgets include the jail complex, emergency services, ambulance services, paramedics and 9H emergency services. Also, the county has added "Building and Grounds West as a line item adding to the overall costs for Sheriff-related services. The SEE Budget PG. A-2 1 BUDGET CONTINUED FROM PG. A-l new item is to provide for utilities and maintenance of the new jail facility. Though the total of all budgets of the departments falling under the scope of the Sheriff's department shows an overall increase of 14 percent, per-cent, the department itself will be operating with $589,085 less than last year. However, funding to man and operate the jail will increase by 42 percent. To facilitate the shifting in funds, the department is being required to cut 15 personnel from the staff. However, there will be an additional addi-tional 31 corrections officers hired to man the new jail in Farmington, slated to open this spring. Personnel Director Steve Baker said some of the people may be able to move from one area to another, which could save some jobs. "We don't want anyone to lose their job," he said. "If that 1 hanrens. we hone attrition will take r r r care of most of it." There are two major obstacles with moving personnel training and the time lag between when the cut in sheriffs personnel is to occur and more correctional officers are needed. The police cuts are expected ex-pected by the end of December and new hires for the jail won't occur until March 1 . The new correction officers must undergo different training than sheriff's personnel receive. Most of the sheriff's employees who are anticipating an-ticipating the switch have not gone through the necessary jail-orientation jail-orientation courses. ' 'That's a long time to go without a paycheck," newly elected Sheriff Glenn Clary said, noting the two-month two-month lag between police layoffs and possible hires for the jail. "It's not just a simple matter of moving people around. ' Deputy Sheriff K.D. Simpson said there are only a few people that will be able to transfer to a corrections correc-tions position. Most of the people affected by the cut will come from areas where the employees are not qualified for the post. "If we were dealing with just deputy sheriffs, it may be possible," possi-ble," he said. "But, we're looking at dispatchers and secretaries too." In addition, Simpson pointed out that the county's policy for a reduction reduc-tion in force requires part-time and probationary personnel to be cut first. Those personnel have no rights under current policies to move to another position within the department, nor do they have the required training for the job. "According to (the commission's) commis-sion's) policy, there's no way those people can be put in the jail," Simpson said. Simpson and Clary have put together an alternative proposal that would stretch out the deadline for personnel cuts through 1991, thereby allowing attrition to soften the blow to the department and its personnel. The plan had not been presented to the commission at press time. "The plan will also give Mr. Clary a chance to make reassignments based on knowledge of programs and people rather than under a pressure situation before he J has had time to find out how things run in the department," said Simpson. Simp-son. There are also concerns about wage differences. Corrections officers offi-cers are not on the same pay scale as police officers, which means transferring officers could see a reduction in pay. The Sheriff's department is also slated to lose 15 vehicles from its existing fleet of 51 to the budget cut, and virtually all requests for new equipment have been nixed for 1991. L |
