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Senate approves county animal-control levy option to distribute costs
Summary
Senators passed second substitute Senate Bill 104 to authorize a county-level levy for animal-control services where the county is sole provider; sponsor and supporters said the levy is revenue-neutral and intended to prevent double taxation.
The Utah Senate approved second substitute Senate Bill 104, which would allow certain counties to levy a tax to fund animal-control services when the county is the sole provider of those services.
Senator Wyler introduced the substitute by describing how Davis County and other local jurisdictions contract with county animal-control as the sole provider and said the bill "distributes the true cost of all animal control costs to the residents of the county revenue neutral." He emphasized that the levy is limited to counties of the second through sixth class and specifically excludes Salt Lake County.
Supporters on the floor, including Senator Stephenson and Senator Winterton, described prior experience as local elected officials in which the cost of animal-control services was a recurring budgetary challenge. They said the substitute prevents double taxation and creates a clearer funding mechanism.
The Senate moved the question and, by roll call, recorded 29 yeas, 0 nays and 0 absent; the bill passed and will be sent to the House for consideration.
The sponsor said stakeholders, including the Utah Association of Counties and the League of Cities and Towns, worked on the language before the substitute was filed. The bill’s text imposes limits on which counties may use the levy and the circumstances under which it applies.
