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Davis County officials outline $3 million shortfall, propose budget shifts and new election scanner purchase
Summary
County Controller Scott Parke told commissioners the 2026 budget faces about a $3 million shortfall and proposed targeted adjustments — including a $130,000 grant-funded DS950 election scanner, $123,346 in petition-processing revenue, staff transfers into Facilities, and use of insurance proceeds for golf course repairs — with commissioners agreeing to schedule a public hearing on the changes.
County Controller Scott Parke told the Davis County Commission on June 9 that the county faces roughly a $3 million shortfall in its targeted 2026 budget and urged fiscal caution to avoid reductions in force.
"We need to be conservative with expenditures across the County to avoid reductions in force," Parke said, noting that an early retirement incentive saved the county about $1 million rather than the expected $2 million. He raised concerns about approving a 3% increase for a Community and Economic Development reclassification if it would create a 10.5% increase for an individual while the county lacks funds.
Parke presented several specific changes to the operating budget. Using a State grant of nearly $95,836 combined with existing funds, the county plans to buy a DS950 high-speed election scanner at a total cost of about $130,000; County Clerk Brian McKenzie said the machine should arrive before the November election and is expected to reduce annual ongoing scanner expenses by roughly $7,400. Clerk McKenzie added the old equipment will be traded in and some components repurposed to offset costs.
Parke also described $123,346 in additional revenue from a state petition-processing contract that replaces an estimated 20–23% of tax dollars normally spent verifying petition signatures. Other recommended adjustments include transferring a position from Community and Economic Development to Facilities (with associated partial-year funding and a one-time $18,000 office remodel), allocating more than $60,000 in insurance proceeds to repair damage at the Valley View Golf Course after a recent fire, and correcting a missed workers' compensation recording entry and an inmate services expense in the 2026 budget.
Commission Chair John Crofts and other commissioners indicated support for Parke's approach, and the board agreed to schedule a public hearing during a Commission meeting to consider the proposed budget changes.
The county's attachments itemize these changes, showing a combined set of adjustments across funds totaling hundreds of thousands of dollars in transfers and reclassifications; the minutes list a grand total of $827,201.28 in revenues and $1,047,855.26 in expenditures associated with the detailed adjustments. The meeting record notes that all distributed documents are available in the Davis County Clerk’s Office.
Next steps: the Commission will hold a public hearing on the proposed budget adjustments before any formal adoption.
