Davis County presents 2026 tentative budget, warns of $12 million structural shortfall and three options including a possible 29.97% property tax adjustment

Scott Park, Davis County controller, presented the 2026 tentative budget to the commission and said the county faces a ‘‘structural deficit of over $12,000,000’’ in the general fund if no action is taken.

Park told the commission that inflation since the last general‑fund tax increase in 2017 has eroded revenue — ‘‘inflation has gone up 32%’’ — and that public‑safety and criminal‑justice costs have risen faster than new revenue. He outlined three budget choices: deep service cuts that would avoid a tax increase but require roughly $12.7 million in reductions and elimination of about 55 positions (including about 24 in public safety); a moderate package pairing smaller cuts with a roughly 14.9% tax adjustment (about $4.16 per month on an average household) and elimination of 14 positions; or a full sustainability option that would restore purchasing power with a 29.97% property‑tax adjustment (about $8.37 per month on the average home) and preserve current service levels while funding capital and reserves.

Sheriff Kelly Sparks spoke during public comment before the budget presentation and urged the commission to consider additional revenue, describing staffing reductions at the sheriff’s office, reliance on contract revenue, and a recent surge in vehicle thefts and burglaries. ‘‘That promise rings a little bit hollow if we don’t have the resources to make it happen,’’ Sparks said, arguing that a tax increase would ‘‘stop the bleeding’’ though it would not restore pre‑2020 staffing levels.

Todd Atsinger, director of the Davis County legal defender program, amplified the public‑safety argument by describing the breadth of indigent‑defense work his office handles — including dependency and civil‑commitment hearings and appeals — and the role of pretrial services. He said pretrial supervision reduces missed court appearances and recidivism and that funding shortfalls have left the county well below regional per‑capita spending for indigent defense.

Commissioners debated alternatives, with at least one commissioner urging a smaller increase in the 9.9–10% range paired with use of turnbacks and fund balance; others emphasized the objective nature of the controller’s numbers and invited residents to three public outreach events before the truth‑in‑taxation hearing. The commission voted to accept the tentative budget for public hearings and to hold three outreach sessions (Nov. 6 at Layton Library, Nov. 12 at Centerville Library, and Nov. 18 at Syracuse Library) and a truth‑in‑taxation hearing on Dec. 2.

Votes at a glance: the commission approved the 2026 tentative budget to proceed to public hearings; approved multiple consent and contract items during the same meeting (see actions list); and scheduled public budget outreach sessions prior to the Dec. 2 truth‑in‑taxation hearing.

The controller and department directors will present more detail and answer questions at public sessions; commissioners said members of the public should attend to understand what services could be cut under smaller increases or cuts and to comment before the Dec. 2 hearing.