LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Modernizing Local Government

Fiscal Policies and Budgetary Procedures

Special Purpose Districts

Statement of Position: MODERNIZING LOCAL GOVERNMENT

After careful consideration of the problems facing the Salt Lake County area, the League of Women Voters feels that the eventual solution must be a modernized form of county government. To this end we support the passage of a constitutional amendment which will permit the legislature to prescribe optional forms of county government. Until such time as an optional form of county government is established, we urge the following interim measures:

• Consolidation of City-County services.
• Consolidation of Special Purpose Districts.
• Cooperation of City and County governments in the area of capital improvements.
• Cooperation of city and county in the solution of mutual problems.

The League supports the following concepts to be incorporated in a modernized form of City or County:

• Equal representation (the one man-one vote concept).
• Separation of legislative and administrative powers.
• Qualified department heads, whether elected or appointed.
• A basic level of service (i.e., garbage collection, fire and police protection, etc.) should be delivered to all residents by the City or County.

April 1956, updated 1957, 1960, 1965, January 1972


Statement of Position: FISCAL POLICIES AND BUDGETARY PROCEDURES

The League of Women Voters supports enforcement of the provision of the Municipal Procedures Act adopted by the Utah State Legislature in 1961.

We favor:
• Budget messages that are clear and meaningful to the public;
• Budget hearings as a means of public education on city fiscal problems and procedures.
• Public hearings on utility budgets as well as the general fund, capital improvements, and other budgets on which public hearings are required by law;
• Continued reservation of $1 million of the annual city sales tax revenues for financing capital improvements.
To that end that budget hearings will be more meaningful to the public, we favor:
• More and better publicity before the hearings.
• Preparation and presentation at hearings of simplified, popularized versions of the budget.
• Encouragement of public attendance at and participation in budget hearings.

March 1963


Statement of Position: SPECIAL PURPOSE DISTRICTS

The League of Women Voters of Salt Lake supports changing the election date for elected boards of Special Districts to conform with general election dates. The League feels that such a change would increase district visibility and voter awareness. Because a larger number of voters turn out for a general election, candidates for special district offices would be able to reach a larger electorate; thus, more voters would be better informed about these candidates and their positions.

The League supports revision of present state statutes governing Special Districts to provide as much consistency among the statutes as possible while still maintaining the flexibility necessary for the variety of purposes Special Districts serve; to simplify and clarify the diversity of laws governing Special Districts; and to ensure accountability of Special Districts to the electorate.

The League supports the concept of consolidation of fire districts in Salt Lake County.

May 1981