Davis County search-and-rescue asks for flat $61,009 operating budget and $20,000 capital for ATV/snowmobile turnover

AJ Sanano, commander of Davis County Search and Rescue, told the Davis County Budget Committee that the team is requesting a flat operating budget of $61,009.40 for 2026 and an additional capital allocation of about $20,000 to cover the county’s share of replacing all-terrain vehicles and snowmobiles.

Sanano said the search-and-rescue team has about 40 operational members and roughly 50 members total, and that the membership pipeline is rigorous — typically about a year from application to full qualification. He said the team is seeing strong community interest, with “almost 55 applications” collected for the next training cycle.

“The county support has helped remove the financial barrier to participation,” Sanano said, describing a past era when volunteers provided most of their own gear. He said outfitting a new member previously could cost “in the a couple $23,000 range” for personal equipment, but county investments have reduced that burden.

Brad Barlow, representing the search-and-rescue leadership, outlined the budget line items that drive costs: technical gear, training (including high-angle rope work), and software that ingests cell-phone GPS coordinates into mapping to help rescuers locate callers rapidly. He recounted a recent call where mapping identified a person a mile and a half above Flag Rock and helped rescuers talk the person through the night until responders reached them.

Barlow said the operating request of $61,009.40 is flat relative to the last several years. In addition, he described a separate capital cycle: the team participates in an every-other-year equipment trade program with a dealer (Young Powersports) that yields trade-in credit of roughly 90% in 2026 for four ATVs and four snowmobiles; the county would pay the roughly $20,000 difference. Barlow said the trade program’s timing makes 2026 a year when the capital replacement piece is required.

Sanano and Barlow also described ongoing challenges: volunteer attrition driven by job and life changes, and the significant time commitment required of operational members even as finances have become less of a barrier. Sanano said the team logs substantial hours: “for this calendar year alone, we’ve logged through exercises, trainings, and incidents over 6,100” (as reported to the committee).

Committee members praised the volunteers and discussed ways to recognize the team publicly. The committee also asked about integration with the county Emergency Operations Center; several speakers said search and rescue has been used for evacuation and traffic control during incidents and that the county would like to better integrate the volunteer team into operational plans.

The presenters noted a recent federal Tri-County grant (with Salt Lake and Tooele counties) that funded a large, high‑mobility vehicle — described in the meeting as a “Sherpa” — intended to reach difficult wetland and phragmites terrain. The vehicle is housed at the sheriff’s annex and is intended to be available regionally if needed.

No formal motions or votes were recorded in the transcript for this item. Committee members asked follow-up questions about the capital classification of the ATV/snowmobile purchase (capital versus operating) and were told that the $20,000 capital piece is typically handled out of capital or an equipment replacement line in alternating years.

Sanano closed by reiterating gratitude for county support and emphasizing the team’s continuing need for trained volunteers and operational readiness.