Budget committee weighs converting part‑time assessor and sheriff posts to full‑time roles

Davis County Budget Committee members on Aug. 11 discussed two separate requests from human resources to convert part‑time positions into single full‑time roles, with opposing views on timing and funding.

Andy Hansen, Davis County assessor, described a request to combine two part‑time merit positions that handle personal property and Greenbelt work into one full‑time position. Hansen said the change would cost about $16,005.47 in ongoing general‑fund appropriation. He said the conversion is intended primarily to retain institutional knowledge and reduce repeated training: “we believe that a full time person is much more likely to stay long term and keep that institutional knowledge,” Hansen said, referring to a long‑time part‑time employee who has already completed some required coursework.

The committee pressed Hansen on timing and necessity. Several commissioners said they would be comfortable considering the conversion in the regular 2026 budget process rather than approving an off‑cycle appropriation now. As an interim measure commissioners suggested increasing the incumbent's hours so the office can test whether a single full‑time position would cover both duties and to help retain the employee until the budget cycle. No formal vote to authorize the funding increase was recorded during the meeting.

Separately, the sheriff's office asked to convert three part‑time patrol positions into a single full‑time deputy. A sheriff's office representative told the committee the three part‑time patrol roles “have been vacant for quite some time” and that the county now lacks reliable part‑time staff to cover required patrol schedules, graveyards and holidays. The office estimated the conversion would increase ongoing costs by about $12,195 a year but said recent hiring progress puts the department in a position to fill the converted vacancy quickly.

Charice Bills, controller's office, told commissioners she had reviewed the sheriff's payroll and concluded the department likely has enough ongoing payroll attrition savings to absorb the sheriff conversion without a formal budget opening. “I think that in this specific instance, you could approve this change to the sheriff's office without changing his budget at all because he already has the recognized ongoing payroll savings that would be more than enough to cover this change,” Bills said.

Discussion and next steps

Committee members separated the two requests. Several commissioners signaled support for the sheriff's office conversion on the grounds it is addressable through existing attrition savings and needed to get bodies on the street. The assessor conversion drew more caution; at least two commissioners recommended handling it as part of the upcoming regular budget process so all personnel requests are considered together. The meeting record shows no formal vote to place either conversion into effect during the Aug. 11 session.

Speakers listed for the discussion included Andy Hansen, Davis County assessor; Charice Bills, controller's office; Scott Park, county controller; a representative of the sheriff's office; and commissioners who asked questions during the discussion.