A tax increase and cuts in the county's law-enforcement budget are subjects of heated debate during this week's 2001 budget hearings at the County Government Center.
County Auditor Craig Sorensen and the County Commission will hold a meeting to finalize their proposed changes at 6 p.m. Wednesday. The public meeting will be held in the Auditor's Budget Hearing Room, N-2007, on the second floor of the County Government Center's North Building, 2001 S. State.
Sheriff Aaron Kennard said Wednesday morning that the County Commission had proposed a $2.8 million cut from the sheriff's department's investigative services funding.
"That'll leave me in the hole," Kennard said. If the funding decrease is made, the sheriff said, he'll have to eliminate as many as 33 deputies and 12 dispatchers and other support staff. "I hope they'll revisit the numbers," Kennard said.
The County Commission is discussing the possibility of raising taxes, so "why don't they keep law enforcement at the same level?" he asked. "It doesn't make sense to me."
At the same time, about $3 million may be added to the county jail's budget, according to County Commission Chief of Staff David Marshall. "They're attempting to complete the funding for the jail" to staff all 33 units of the year-old complex, he said. Currently 27 units are staffed, with full staffing not expected until 2002.
The County Commission is expected to discuss impacts of decisions made late Tuesday and finalize its proposed 2001 budget Wednesday night.
Proposed additions to next year's budget include funding for expansion of the Magna Public Library and the establishment of a county branch library in Draper. The county commissioners also hope to find a way to fund the South Salt Lake public library, Marshall said. Last month that city seceded from the county library system.
"This is basically the 2000 budget again," Marshall said. "Most agencies outside law enforcement didn't get much" in terms of funding changes.
A public hearing for the 2001 Salt Lake County budget is set for Dec. 18 at the County Government Center.