When West Valley City was incorporated in 1980, the founding fathers went out bargain shopping to buy communications equipment for the fledgling police department.
Chief Dennis Nordfelt said the average life for police radios is eight years. Some of West Valley's radios, purchased used nine years ago, haven't yet been replaced. "We're still using some used equipment," he said.Nordfelt said of the 100 cars in the police department's fleet, 53 have over 100,000 miles and 71 have over 50,000 miles. And this year's proposed budget doesn't include any capital expenditures, although Nordfelt is hoping city revenues will come in high enough during the last quarter of the current fiscal year to allow the purchase of as many as 21 cars, budgeted last year.
"That would relieve some of the problems," Nordfelt said. "But 21 cars isn't going to solve our problem. It's just going to postpone the inevitable."
The age of the department's radios and cars is just one measure of how conservative budgeters are in Utah's second largest city. Despite city needs, the elected officials have held the line on taxes.
City Manager John Newman terms the $14.1 million proposed 1989-1990 budget as tighter than frugal.
He said in a comparison of 13 other Utah city budgets, West Valley City ranked 13th, claiming the lowest chunk of household income annually at $579, compared to an average municipal grab of $847.
Residents of Utah's second-largest city will have a chance to speak out about the proposed budget at a public hearing Thursday at 6 p.m. in the City Council chambers, 2470 S. Redwood Road.
There are no tax, permit or fee increases in this budget. It includes a merit pay package for city employees, $167,000 budgeted for earned rewards officially called "performance compensation"; $148,000 budgeted for increases in the city's share of employee medical benefits; a $6,000 allotment to the cultural arts committee as the city's only support of community activities; and $45,000 for the operation and maintenance of a senior community center.
Although not included in the city's general fund operating budget, the city will spend $4.2 million in bond money this year on the new West Ridge golf course, a 200-acre, 18-hole course planned for about 5600 West and 4900 South. The city just issued a $14 million 20-year lease-revenue bond package, to purchase the land and pay for construction.
"I'm not trying to put any undue pressure on the council," Nordfelt said. "Quite frankly, I think West Valley City is getting a good service for the money. But we're reaching a point where the service is not going to be able to be maintained."
Mayor Brent F. Anderson said he feels uncomfortable about the bareness of the city's public safety budgets. "I don't think we have enough in the budget," he said, "but we can't afford any more."
Fire Chief Gerald Maughan agrees that the city's resources are stretched. West Valley's fire department needs about $10,000 for safety equipment.