Davis County staff proposes 30-year land-lease resolution for Western Sports Park, outlines valuation methods

Curtis Cope, a county staff member, presented a draft resolution and supporting analysis to the Davis County Budget Committee on May 12, 2025, proposing that the county treat the Western Sports Park land as general-fund property and receive lease payments from the tourism fund to support capital needs.

Cope said the draft ties the parcel’s history to prior bond financing and notes that the county used general-obligation bond proceeds to purchase the land. He told the committee the county-assessor’s multifamily model produces an estimated market value “closer to $23,000,000,” which works out to about $417,000 per acre for the 55.06-acre parcel. “It is reasonable and appropriate and lawful that lease payments be made from the tourism fund to the general fund for the land lease utilized exclusively for tourism related activities associated with the Western Sports Park,” Cope said, and added that “lease payments shall begin January 1 of this year and commence for a minimum of 30 years.”

Nut graf: The discussion focused on two questions the committee must decide before adopting a final resolution: what valuation methodology should determine the annual lease amount, and whether…