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Resident asks county to audit South Davis Recreation District finances; commissioners note levying board retains authority
Summary
A public commenter urged the county auditor and county attorney to examine whether voter-approved subsidy funds at the South Davis Recreation District have been used as intended; commissioners clarified the county no longer appoints the district board and does not directly levy the tax.
A resident asked Davis County officials on June 17 to investigate the finances and accounting practices of the South Davis Recreation District, saying taxpayer subsidy funds may be covering activities voters did not approve.
The commenter — identified in the meeting transcript as a resident speaking during public comment — said the recreation district was established about 20 years ago and that two voter-approved levies (a bond and a property tax subsidy) were presented to voters with a voter pamphlet describing the center as “the building and the parking lot” and listing intended activities. The resident said the subsidy was originally expected to cover a maximum of 25% of operation and maintenance costs but now “the subsidy now covers 40% of the cost of the center and the outside activities that have been added,” and that the district approved a “77% property tax increase” last year. The commenter also said taxpayer subsidy funds are not segregated from other district funds and asked whether subsidy money has been used on planning and expansion expenses not approved by voters.
The resident asked the county auditor and county attorney to review whether subsidy funds were appropriately segregated and spent only for the purposes approved by voters. The resident also noted the recreation district has expanded into programs such as youth sports and the Bountiful ice ribbon that were not part of the original description.
Commissioners clarified that the county does not directly levy the tax for the district. Commissioner Lorraine Kamalu explained the recreation district’s board levies the tax, and the commission’s agenda item on the tax rate was informational for the public. Commissioners and staff also noted a previous change in the district’s bylaws and appointment process: the county no longer appoints members to that recreation district board.
Ending: The commission approved the resolution adopting the tax rate for the South Davis Recreation District as an informational agenda item; the resident’s request for an audit was received and acknowledged by the clerk and commissioners, who did not take separate formal investigative action at the meeting.
