Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Budget topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Davis County Commission adopts 2026 budget, approves 14.9% property tax increase after heated debate
Summary
The Davis County Commission on Dec. 9 adopted the final 2026 operating and capital budgets and a 14.9% property tax increase, with commissioners saying the county still faces a roughly $6.5 million general-fund gap and will pursue targeted cuts and temporary measures such as a hiring freeze.
Davis County commissioners adopted the county’s final 2026 operating and capital budgets on Dec. 9, approving a 14.9% property tax increase and directing staff to identify targeted spending reductions to close a roughly $6.5 million general-fund shortfall.
Controller Scott Park told the commission the final budget package includes automatic adjustments for non-elected county officers — a 2% cost-of-living swap paid in the first paycheck and up to 2.5% in merit increases — and a 2% base-pay shift matched by a 2% reduction in the county’s 401(k) contribution. “The general fund is still short $6,500,000,” Park said during his presentation, and recommended using a careful, targeted approach to cuts rather than broad across-the-board reductions.
The measure passed after a motion and second. Commissioners said they expect to pursue options such as a temporary hiring freeze while departments and elected leaders identify specific reductions. Commissioner Crofts, who voted against the tax increase, explained his no vote after the action: “I did not feel in good conscience that I could vote for a tax increase,” he said, describing conversations with residents facing financial strain.
Chair Maureen Kamalu and other supporters framed the vote as difficult but necessary to meet mandated services and rising costs. Kamalu stressed the county must follow state law for certain expenditures and that officials had held open houses and public meetings to solicit input. “People can dig into the numbers,” Kamalu said, pointing to previous budget committee work and publicly available financial reports.
The board also held a statutorily required public hearing earlier in the meeting on compensation changes for department heads and non-elected officers. Park summarized those elements of the budget, saying non-elected officers would receive up to a 4.5% combined increase (2% COLA plus up to 2.5% merit) while elected officials would see smaller average adjustments.
Next steps, commissioners said, include departmental follow-ups to identify proposed cuts, continued outreach to the public and legislative engagement to address unfunded state mandates that commissioners said drive local costs. The commission adjourned at 11:10 a.m.
