Davis County Public Works outlines capital projects, equipment needs and shrinking fund balance in budget presentation

Davis County Public Works presented its annual budget and project priorities to the Davis County Budget Committee on October 4, detailing major capital requests, maintenance needs and a shrinking unincorporated fund balance that committee members said may force a future tax conversation.

"Davis County Public Works department is a hard work and service minded organization that keeps the roads in an incorporated Davis County in excellent condition," said Adam Rackwood during the presentation as he reviewed staffing and assets. Rackwood reported the department has 27 full‑time employees, about 78 pieces of equipment, roughly 87 miles of jurisdictional channels and maintains about 25 miles of county roads.

The department’s capital requests for the coming year include a second phase of Still Creek piping (about 1,200 feet), a culvert replacement on Fulms Creek at 2050 East that staff said is failing and at risk of causing roadway loss, and piping work on a sugar drain in Layton that would be turned over to Layton City for maintenance. Staff also noted ongoing collaboration on the West Point sewer project and multiple culvert upsizing efforts associated with UDOT’s West Davis Corridor work.

On equipment, Public Works said it is seeking a transport tractor, two half‑ton pickup trucks (per fleet recommendation), a skid steer and replacement pump trailer(s). Rackwood told committee members the department has three old pump trailers that lack modern connections and that the fleet needs updating to remain compatible with newer trucks.

Committee members questioned several budget lines, including a large shift of amounts into a 'road repair and maintenance' line and the split of vehicle services and fuel accounts. Rackwood said historical lumped accounts were separated this year for clarity and that vehicle services was around $43,000 with fuel about $30,000 after accounting changes.

Staff flagged several permitting delays that have affected schedules and costs: a mosquito abatement permitting matter has been in court and the Army Corps (referred to as the Corps) had missed a deadline, and other flood‑control permits remain pending. Rackwood said crews had been busy with a heavy runoff year, dredging basins, repairing erosion and rebuilding a failing section of Hooper Draw Channels after obtaining permits.

Multiple committee members raised sustainability concerns for services funded from the unincorporated area. "Unincorporated is now the fund balance is dropping," one committee member said, and the group noted that continuing certain services—particularly weed control—without changes would likely require a tax increase in the next one to two years.

The committee did not take votes at the meeting. Staff said the budget requests and project schedules will be tracked, that some projects may be encumbered and rolled into the next fiscal year, and that follow‑ups will occur as permitting and interagency coordination (notably with UDOT and local cities) proceed.