County Council Budget Meeting - Dec 12 6 PM

Thanks to the Summit County Tea Party, the tax increases for Service Area 6 and the County Municipal Services area have been placed on hold until the next general election in 2014. This puts the County in a tough position and the Council is looking at 3 alternatives:

1. Cut several Deputy Sheriff and Road crew positions.
2. Do some "Budget Magic" and transfer funds between the County General Fund and these 2 service districts.
3. re-institute the tax increases for the service districts.

#1 would result in increased police response time in most of the county, decreased road maintenance (more pot holes and deferred and increased long term maintenance costs) and poor snow removal.
Delays in snow removal will result in residents being late for work and tourists unable to access the resorts.

#2 will result in cuts in county wide programs and inequities in who pays for which services. Is there any reason why residents of Park City or Kamas should pay for Sheriff response to the Snyderville Basin, or pay for road maintenance or plowing there? Do residents of the unincorporated areas pay for PCPD service or snow plowing in incorporated areas?

#3 This is the only fair and efficient response. Taxes in these districts have not increased in 25-35 years. The property taxation system in Utah does NOT generate increases due to inflation. Does any one believe that it costs the same amount to pay Deputies, and road crews, buy gas and diesel and asphalt as it did 30 years ago. It is interesting to note, that no one at the last "Truth in Taxation" hearing on this subject actually wanted to cut these services, they just want them paid for by someone else.  This Tea Party crowd is just a bunch of moochers.

It is important to show up at the Budget meeting, Wednesday Dec 12, 6 PM to make our voices heard. If only the Tea Party is there, that is all the Council will hear.