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Taylorsville • Salt Lake County Sheriff Jim Winder gave a presentation to the City Council on Wednesday about the benefits of the cash-poor Salt Lake Valley city joining the Unified Police Department.
The council also discussed how to make even deeper cuts to the bare-bones 2012 budget that no longer contains a previously proposed tax increase intended to fund economic development and police vehicle needs.
Winder told the council the city could save $993,683 its first year, $704,258 of that amount a sum that UPD would front Taylorsville to cover current vehicle rotation costs and any assured pay that officers would receive if they exited the force.
Also, after three years, Taylorsville could exit UPD and take with it all the equipment the city contributed at the time of joining up, Winder added.
Council Chairman Jerry Rechtenbach asked Winder to elaborate on his "buy today and get $704,258" offer.
"I wouldn't characterize it that way," Winder said. "I ain't selling watches, I'm selling public safety."
Taylorsville currently lacks a dedicated fund to replace police cars.
"Right now, if you need to buy new cars, you must take it out of contingency" — or some other part of the city's budget, Winder said.
Winder said the city could keep its same personnel numbers and that UPD would assimilate Taylorsville's current officers and afford them advancement opportunities they currently do not have.
An eight-member board oversees UPD, comprising three Salt Lake County representatives and the mayors of each member city.
Taylorsville Mayor Russ Wall already serves on that board due to pooled services the city receives.
Residents in attendance were mixed in their response to Winder's pitch.
Scott Miller, a Taylorsville police officer who lives outside the city, pleaded with the council to "step up to the plate" and join UPD.
"We are hurting for resources," Miller said, noting that on his night shifts, he often responds to domestic violence calls without backup.
Taylorsville resident Lynn Handy urged the council to fund the police department and other city needs, even if it requires a tax increase.
"Tally it up and present us with a total," Handy said, adding that when Taylorsville incorporated as a city 16 years ago, citizens pledged to make it a better place.
In his tentative budget, Wall had previously proposed a $25 to $50 tax boost per year to expand the city's economic development department and to fund essential police vehicle replacement and officer training. That tax increase — backed by some residents and scorned by others — has since been taken off the table.
Last month, all of Taylorsville's sworn police officers signed a petition in support of joining UPD, with the exception of the chief and assistant chief, who abstained to remain neutral.
No decisions were made to join UPD or approve the 2012 budget Wednesday. Council members said they would vote on the budget next week.
Twitter: @catmck