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Sheriff’s office outlines shooting-range operations; committee considers $15,000 tourism transfer to cover weekend recreation costs
Summary
Davis County sheriff's office told the budget committee the recently opened public shooting range has generated almost $10,000 in six weeks, sold 83 annual passes and 330-plus daily passes; commissioners discussed using tourism (restaurant tax) revenue to offset weekend recreation costs and asked the sheriff’s office to return with a proposal.
Chief Butcher (presenting for the sheriff’s office) told the Davis County Budget Committee the county’s new shooting range is providing both law enforcement training and public recreation and that organizers have tried to minimize ongoing costs while building revenue from public use.
Butcher said the range is set up so Monday through Thursday daytime is reserved for law enforcement training; Friday, Saturday and Sunday are open to the public. He told the committee the facility is staffed largely by volunteers — “about 75 volunteers” — and one part‑time employee who helps coordinate range officers and scheduling.
Butcher said the sheriff’s office lacks a long historical baseline because the range has been open only about six weeks. In that time, public revenue has been “almost $10,000,” the presenters reported. The office said it has sold 83 annual passes and “330 plus” daily passes, and that users come from across the Wasatch Front, including Layton, Kaysville, Syracuse, West Haven, Morgan, Tremonton and Hooper.
Committee members raised the question of whether weekend operations should be funded from tourism revenue — specifically the county’s transient room tax/restaurant tax fund (referred to in discussion as tourism or TRT revenue) — because weekend public access is a recreation activity that attracts nonresident visitors. One commissioner suggested transferring $15,000 from tourism to the sheriff’s office to cover the recreation component; the commissioner asked staff and the sheriff’s office to develop a proposal showing the appropriate amount.
Butcher said the county has taken steps to limit ongoing technology costs (ticketing system, cameras, door locks and Internet connectivity) by piggybacking on Public Works connectivity and minimizing monthly fees; he noted that technology will require future replacements and that the office is tracking those needs.
The committee discussed operations and scheduling details, including that the first two bays (north phase) are reserved for law enforcement 24/7 and that other bays are shared among public shooters and clubs. Presenters said they have not had to turn anyone away to date and that competitive matches and club events draw visitors from across the state and occasionally out of state.
No formal vote was recorded in the transcript. The committee agreed to have staff and the sheriff’s office return with a specific proposal for an amount to transfer from tourism funds to the sheriff’s office to offset the recreation component; $15,000 was floated as an illustrative starting point in the discussion.
