UPD, Bad Idea or Just Poorly Implemented?

I have been an advocate of a valley wide unified police department for a long time. I was introduced to the concept in either the late ‘70s or early ‘80s. The economies of scale and smaller administrative bureaucracies of a Unified Police Department appealed to me. Candidate Winder, now Sheriff Winder made the Unified Police Department (UPD) one of the main components of his election campaign.
So last week when it was announced that a NEW fee would be needed to fund UPD, I was forced to rethink my position. When I learned that if the fee wasn’t imposed 100 deputies would be laid off; I was REALLY forced to rethink my position. I’d like to pose some questions for you to consider.
According to a Salt Lake County press release the UPD will save money. So if the county is saving money, will property taxes be reduced to compensate for the new fee?
No, property taxes will not be reduced. Funds for police and fire primarily come from sales tax revenues and sales tax revenues have dropped during the recent economic downturn. The new fee will be imposed on both businesses and homes. Some of the monthly fees for businesses are rather hefty. Businesses are not only taxed based on the type of business, but they’re taxed based on the number of employees too. Some businesses will either fire people or simply not fill positions when employees retire or quit. Oh, by the way, your church will be taxed too. So, the new fee will damage an already weak economy.
Funds for the deputies who patrol and serve in the UPD participating cities and towns were already budgeted. Where are the additional funds generated by the NEW fees being spent?
If the fee is not imposed and the Sheriff actually fires 100 deputies, the cities and towns affected by the layoffs won’t just sit idly by, they’ll use funds already budgeted for law enforcement and hire officers to police their communities. Logically, you’d hire the previously trained and experienced county deputies.
If the funds generated by the fees are for startup, then either bond and retire the bonds with the anticipated savings or make it clear that the fees are temporary and build in a hard and fast sunset clause.
If the funds generated by the fees are to hire more deputies or purchase new equipment, then don’t. Wait until the savings generated by UPD have been realized to increase the force and buy new equipment.
If the new fee is required to fund the UPD, then it would seem the entire concept and projected savings of a Unified Police Department are flawed. Either the wrong people put it together or it’s the wrong time to implement the idea.
If the fee is to fund the UPD, then it would seem that the UPD is just a way to free up other tax funds for other county priorities and was simply a ruse to raise taxes. In other words, tax funds that would have gone to the Sheriff’s office were spent elsewhere and a fee was created to fund the UPD. A new tax extorted by playing on people’s fears. If you don’t pay the fee 100 deputies will be laid off.
The UPD is a good idea, but it’s either the wrong time or it’s being implemented by the wrong people.
Shame on Sheriff Jim Winder, Mayor Corroon and the County Council.