Highland pushes Alpine for bigger share of Lone Peak Public Safety costs amid staffing concerns

Highland City Council members told the Lone Peak Public Safety District board and their Alpine City counterparts this month they want the district’s funding formula changed so contributions better reflect taxable value and actual service costs.

The discussion followed months of board-level debate about adding at least one firefighter position; the board approved funding for an additional on‑duty position (which translates to three hires across platoons) but made filling that post contingent on revising the interlocal allocation formula.

Why it matters: Highland officials say the current formula — a 10% “base” split, then 45% by population and 45% by equivalent residential units — results in Highland paying roughly 65% of the district cost while receiving only about 45% of combat staffing. That mismatch, Highland leaders said, leaves their residents paying more while frontline staffing frequently drops below minimums at the Highland station.

Highland…