Source: Standard-Examiner, Ogden, UtahDec.迷利倉 21--OGDEN -- Rising rates have roused rumblings among several of the eight cities that contract with the Weber County Sheriff's Office for law enforcement services."It's our biggest issue out here," said Hooper Mayor Korry Green.An estimated 7,722 people reside in Hooper, a largely agricultural community that encompasses 27 square miles of ground. In 2012, the city paid $279,867 for law enforcement. That figure jumped to $350,000 this year, and the proposed rate for the coming fiscal year (2014-15) climbs to $456,035."Moving to $350,000 stretched our budget to the max. I don't know where we can find another $100,000," Green said, noting that city officials have begun exploring alternatives."In theory, they're providing us a full-time police officer around the clock. Maybe we could contract for half an officer, or maybe we could do our own police force."West Haven, with an estimated population of 11,069, now logs the most service calls among the contract cities -- fueled to some extent by two full interchanges for Interstate 15.West Haven's law enforcement costs increased 89 percent -- from $354,000 to $670,000 -- over the past three contract years.Outgoing West Haven Mayor Brian Melaney, who did not seek re-election in November, said the city explored other options last year before accepting the $670,000 contract.Now officials brace for another bump in 2014, to $886,460, a 150 percent increase over four years."They've explained their method of assessing those costs, so we know the reason why," said incoming Mayor Sharon Bolos. "But there is some concern because we have to figure out where the money comes from."West Haven enjoys a robust commercial hub, is debt-free, operates without a city manager and does not levy a property tax, Melaney said.Sheriff Terry Thompson said the county's general fund had been subsidizing law enforcement service to the contract cities for quite some time. That subsidy meant that Weber County taxpayers residing in cities with their own police departments were essentially paying twice, he said."It's taken a lot of years to get worse, and we're trying to fix it in a short time," Thompson said. "At some point, you've got to pull the Band-Aid off."When Thompson took office in January 2011, he set out to revamp the system."The rates had been arbitrary in the past," said Chief Deputy Klint Anderson. "Now they're based on a hybrid formula of population and numbers of calls."In addition to raising contract rates, Anderson said they also trimmed expenses so the county could lower its property tax rate and in hopes that would offset any tax increases the contract cities would have to impose.Thirteen positions were eliminated through attrition, cutting $1 million in personnel costs and trimming the sheriff's law enforcement division to 74 full-time employees.The state average for police coverage is 1.5 officers per 1,000 people, Thompson said, and his law enforcement division now operates with 1.33 officers per 1,000.When next 迷你倉ear's rates kick in, Thompson believes, the contract cities will finally be covering their own costs. But those rates are subject to negotiation as smaller communities wrestle with how to fund their rising public safety needs.In tiny Uintah, where an estimated 1,334 people reside and as few as 420 homes provide property tax, incoming Mayor Lawrence Flitton voiced his concern."We are a very small city and don't have much tax base from businesses," he said. "They have put us in a bind, and we have not been able to work effectively because of their contract."Two years ago, Uintah paid $68,267 for the sheriff's services. That cost rose to $105,336 this year and is expected to increase to $113,990 in 2014.In August, Uintah city officials trimmed their own pay and cut back on maintenance for the community's iconic mountainside "U" to avoid raising taxes to fund public safety.Farr West -- population 6,122 -- had to bite the bullet and hike taxes 166 percent this year to fund increased law enforcement costs, along with a new pedestrian bridge over 2700 North to serve junior high students.Two years ago, the city paid $270,122 for sheriff's services; that cost rose to $333,000 in 2013. Next year, it climbs to $433,813.Sticker shock over the 61 percent bump led Mayor Lee Dickemore to float the idea of creating a metro police department with neighboring communities."It's just in the talking stages," Dickemore said."Personally, I don't have problems with the sheriff, but the prices have escalated."Nearby Marriott-Slaterville, a city of 1,727 residents, is also exploring its options, having seen rates jump from $190,927 in fiscal year 2011-12 to a proposed $243,968 for 2014-15."The council is concerned about escalating costs of law enforcement," City Administrator Bill Morris said, noting that officials had conversed with Farr West about ways to address their mutual dilemma.Alternatives include forming their own police departments, joining with nearby cities or asking the sheriff's office for lower service levels.Like West Haven, Marriott-Slaterville does not levy a property tax.One city, Washington Terrace, saw its contract costs decrease under the new system.It will be paying $749,815 for fiscal year 2014-15."We were already paying the amount that was in line with population and call volume," said City Manager Tom Hanson, "so we ended up with a little bit of a reduction."Anderson touts the sheriff's costs as cheaper per capita than any other police agency and said the department works hard to give each community a tailored menu of service. But Thompson said he has been urging cities not to take the department's word for it."We've encouraged them to do their homework, go through the process and check all the options out there."Contact reporter Cathy McKitrick at 801-625-4214 or cmckitrick@standard.net. Follow her on Twitter at @catmck.Copyright: ___ (c)2013 the Standard-Examiner (Ogden, Utah) Visit the Standard-Examiner (Ogden, Utah) at .standard.net Distributed by MCT Information Services自存倉
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