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Davis County staff seek two tourism-funded positions as Western Sports Park demand outpaces staffing
Summary
County staff told commissioners that bookings at the Western Sports Park have grown faster than projected; staff requested a budget change to add two tourism-funded positions (estimated $170,000 ongoing and $1,650 one-time) and asked commissioners to place the budget change on a future agenda.
County economic-development staff and Western Sports Park leaders told the Davis County Commission in a March 3 work session that demand at the Western Sports Park has accelerated, increasing weekday rentals and event bookings and pressuring concessions and event-coordination staff.
Kent Anderson, Community and Economic Development, and Dave Nadsen, Western Sports Park, said the park has booked new leagues and tournaments — including a regional "Bantam" competition league and expanded volleyball and basketball events — and that weekday rentals filled space faster than their five-year forecast. Anderson said two new positions (an event coordinator and a backup lead for food services) are needed to avoid becoming "a victim of our own success."
County finance staff said those positions would be funded from tourism revenues, not the general fund. Staff reported that, compared with the prior-year operating deficit (about $1.6 million), the park's year-to-date revenues are now about $60,000 higher than expected and recommended a budget change: $170,000 in ongoing tourism-fund support and a one-time $1,650 allotment to set up hiring. Commissioners signaled support and asked staff to prepare a formal budget-change item for the commission agenda; staff said the plan would be presented as a consent-or-regular agenda item for formal approval.
Commissioners and speakers stressed local economic benefits — hotels and restaurants receive increased business from tournament visitors — and noted that some smaller operational issues (storage, concessions footprint) would be adjusted. No formal hiring occurred at the work session; action will depend on next week's formal agenda vote.
