By Daniel W. Thatcher
Utah State Senator

If you are a resident of unincorporated Salt Lake County, then you already know what a rotten deal this police fee is. If you are not, imagine for a moment getting a bill mailed from somewhere in California charging you hundreds of dollars for police service that your property tax has always covered.

How on earth did this happen?

During the ’09 session, Salt Lake County asked the State legislature to allow them to create a special district for police service funding in the unincorporated areas. They promised that they would create a line item for police service in property taxes, identical to how they currently fund fire service. We agreed, based on the requirement language in the bill that tax rates must remain level, and they could not use this district to increase taxes.

Later that year, as Salt Lake County prepared their 2010 budget, their attorneys advised them that if they were to call this tax a fee, they could circumvent both the requirements in the statutes, and truth in taxation laws. The County Council passed their budget without properly funding police service. They argued that this fee was the only way to provide the necessary support for public safety.

There are three big problems with what Salt Lake County did:

1. They deliberately ignored legislative intent and did exactly the opposite of statute.
2. By playing word games and legal gymnastics, they intentionally dodged tax law.
3. They failed to properly fund public safety.

Senate Bill 43 gives Salt Lake County an immediate cease and desist order to this egregious misinterpretation, misuse, and abuse of both the people and the law.

Should we continue forcing our citizens to bear this burden, or should we send a clear message that you do not play political games with public safety funding? Who should be responsible for Salt Lake County’s gross mismanagement? I believe the answer is clear: We hold the County accountable.

For more information about this issue, watch my YouTube video here: