Davis County commissioners approve $6,470 library photo prints amid heated tax debate

The Davis County Commission approved a $6,470 contract to print seven large acrylic photographic panels for library branch installations after a short but pointed debate over optics while a proposed county tax increase remains under consideration.

Library Director Josh Johnson told commissioners the panels are 42-by-72 inches and would be installed to make library space more welcoming. Johnson said the library had three quotes and that the expenditure is within the library’s existing funds.

Commissioners questioned whether the purchase, though small in dollar terms, undercuts the county’s message to voters who are weighing a possible property-tax increase. One commissioner noted the same amount could instead buy roughly 250–300 children's books. Commissioner John Cross cast the lone recorded “Nay” in the roll-call vote; the motion otherwise passed by voice vote.

Supporters argued the library fund is distinct from the general fund and that investments in welcoming public space yield measurable returns in patron use and community services. A commissioner noted the county’s library system is among the strongest in Utah and described existing comparisons showing a favorable per-capita service level.

The commission’s approval was procedural: the purchase is drawn from library-allocated funds rather than the county’s general operating budget. Commissioners who opposed the item framed their concern as optics during an ongoing public discussion about fiscal restraint and a potential tax proposal.

The panel installation now moves forward; branding, installation details and procurement documentation will be handled by library staff and facilities as specified in the approved contract. The commission continued with its agenda after the vote.