FARMINGTON — In Davis County, like most counties in Utah, three commissioners gather weekly to approve contracts, enact ordinances and oversee county operations.
A West Point man who is running for one of those commission seats this year says Davis County's form of government allocates too much power to those three people. He would like to see a seven-member county council to increase representation at the county level.
David Andreasen, 45, is challenging incumbent Davis County Commissioner Bret Millburn, of Centerville, who is running for re-election this year.
Both men are vying for the 800 delegates' votes at this year's Davis County Republican Convention on Saturday at Davis High School in Kaysville.
If either man can secure about 500 votes, he will advance to the November general election against Democrat Kelly Dixon, of Kaysville.
If both Republican candidates score around 400 votes apiece, they will face off in a primary election in June.
Andreasen's pitch to delegates is that a seven-member council and county mayor could better serve the residents of Davis County. The council members could work part-time instead of full-time, and the powers of government would be separated into an executive branch and legislative branch.
Currently, commissioners execute both roles.
"I think we should be able to realize a cost savings by changing the form of government," Andreasen said. "The benefits would be an increase in openness and transparency."
Millburn said he's not so sure. Though he welcomes a full analysis of the pros and cons of a change in county government, Millburn says it could cost more money to have larger representation.
The three full-time county commissioners earn about $115,000 a year in Davis County.
But Millburn said a part-time council would be required to have its own staff, and so would a county mayor.
The smaller county commission can be nimble and act more quickly than a larger legislative body, he said.
"It seems like it would cost a lot of money," said Millburn, 43. "I'm not for growing government."
Both men consider themselves to be "tightwads," but Andreasen says spending by Davis County commissioners needs to be reined in.
"I want to try to take a realistic look at trying to cut unnecessary programs," he said.
Millburn said the county has been cutting back its operating budget the past two years when the slumping economy meant the county would get less sales-tax revenue.
The county has not approved a property-tax increase since 2006, when commissioners voted on an increase to generate $7.1 million a year for flood-control projects, jail operations and aging services.
The county's total budget, which includes major construction projects, is the highest in 2010 it has been in the past five years because the county is in the process of building a new library, county administration building and health department building and is undertaking major flood-control projects.
Using the property-tax increase that took effect in 2007 as collateral, the county has bonded to borrow money to speed up the construction process.
It makes sense to do the projects now, Millburn said, because construction prices are lower than they have been in recent years, so the county is effectively getting its projects "on sale." And the projects keep Utahns employed and working, he added.
Andreasen disagrees with commissioners' recent decision to embark on the construction of a new county administration building and their vote in 2007 to expand the Davis Conference Center to include an exhibit hall.
Millburn said the new building is necessary because seismic upgrades to the Davis County Memorial Courthouse would be too costly and because the current building is too cramped.
And the Conference Center expansion, which is being paid for out of tourism-type revenues in Davis County — a tax on hotel stays, restaurant meals and car rentals — is designed to boost revenues throughout Davis County by bringing more people to the county, Millburn said.
"I'm running on my record," Millburn said. "Because of how prudent we've been in establishing our budgets and where we put our priorities, we've been poised to move the county forward when opportunity knocks."
Andreasen said delegates have been intrigued by his ideas.
"If I'm not successful, that's fine by me," he said. "I would really like to get this debate started on reforming county government."
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