County Manager Andy Welch returned to the Tooele County Council on Dec. 2 to review outstanding items in the proposed 2026 budget and seek guidance on staffing and capital projects.

Welch said the county is "dead last in the state per capita of what we spend on public defender's office" and recommended increasing funding to match comparable third‑class counties, a change he estimated would cost "just slightly over $100,000." He and council members said the increase is intended to ensure competent representation and reduce county vulnerability from underfunding.

On personnel, Welch outlined remaining position requests: moving an event program coordinator from part‑time to full time, restoring the internal audit position from 0.49 FTE to 1.0 FTE, and several aging‑department roles moving from smaller part‑time allocations to 0.5 FTE. Councilmembers agreed to delay final decisions until the full council meets on Dec. 9.

Welch also described ongoing negotiations with the state regarding the courthouse: "I put in a half million dollars for us to tear that down," he said, explaining the county expects reimbursement from the state (the presenter said the state plans to give about $2.5 million and buy an additional half‑acre). The demolition would allow a new sally port and additional parking adjacent to the county building.

The manager proposed changes to how the transient room tax (TRT) and restaurant tax are spent after state law changes. Welch recommended TRT project money be opened narrowly to non‑county museums and cultural sites and proposed giving the TRT board clear application rules; he noted a proposed $405,000 allocation for eligible museum/project grants.

On capital needs, Welch said he included a $100,000 contingency to assess whether a senior center roof can hold an HVAC unit, and an initial $50,000 (a provider quoted $35,000) for council‑chamber sound improvements.

Why it matters: The staffing moves affect county internal controls (the auditor position), public‑defender service levels, and operating costs; the courthouse demolition is tied to a negotiated sale and near‑term capital cash‑flow. TRT changes would direct local tourism dollars toward narrowly defined cultural projects.

What’s next: Council tabled the remaining staffing decisions to the Dec. 9 full meeting and left proposed capital items in the budget for further review.