March 25, 2012 (Cont'd) Contracts with the eight cities have been adjusted slightly over the last decade, but haven't kept pace with service costs, population increases and a reduction in grant funds, said Thompson, who was elected in 2010. "We need to fix the problem," he said. "City officials need to take ownership." Sticker shock probably could have been avoided if the increases had been implemented incrementally over several years, Anderson said. "It probably should have been gradual because we would be at that point (of achieving the same increases requested in the new contracts)," he said. "This has been an issue for the last decade and a half. "Every year we have capitulated, but now it can't legally and ethically be done anymore." The unincorporated areas of Weber County and the eight contract cities consume about half of the agency's services, primarily in patrol and investigations, while providing only a quarter of the funding, Thompson said. Sheriff's officials and representatives from cities have been working for more than a year to develop an equitable strategy for the contracts. Unique contracts Each of the eight contracts is uniquely crafted. Some city officials have voiced concern about the equity and fairness of their contracts in comparison to others, Thompson said. Weber County Commissioner Jan M. Zogmaister said it's understandable that the eight cities want to negotiate the most affordable contract possible. "Every mayor wants to try to keep the cost down," she said. The WCSO contract study has been eye-opening and necessary to put all cities on an even playing field, she said. "It's a good exercise, and I think the right thing to do." Although the county commissioners allocate funds to the sheriff's office, Thompson is responsible for determining how the money is spent. The contract increases are needed, said Weber County Commissioner Craig L. Dearden. "We need to catch things up and see what shakes out of it," he said. First contracts Dearden established the initial contracts with West Haven and Farr West while serving as sheriff. "I anticipated that the contracts would be increased," said Dearden, who resigned as sheriff in 1997 to become the state's director of public safety. Brad Slater, who was a captain with the WCSO at the time, was appointed by the county commissioners to succeed Dearden as sheriff. Slater, who is currently the chief deputy for the Cache County Sheriff's Office, could not be reached for comment regarding the Weber contracts. Presently, Weber County residents who live in cities with police departments pay for local law enforcement through municipal taxes and the sheriff's office services through county property taxes. However, residents who live in unincorporated Weber County and the eight contract cities pay only for sheriff's services. Some communities pay a larger share of funds for sheriff's services than others on a per taxpayer or per capita basis, Thompson said. 'Under state law, only those services that the WCSO provides to all residents should be paid by all taxpayers, Thompson said. The proposal for the eight contract cities and unincorporated Weber County includes a cost formula based on each municipality's population and an 18-month call history. Property taxes The proposal also calls for the county to take less in property taxes from all county residents. For example, the owner of a $200,000 home would get a $24 county tax reduction annually, Andersbn said. Although taxpayers in the eight cities that contract with the WCSO would have a decrease in county property taxes, they may see an increase in city property taxes based on the decisions by their city officials, Thompson said. In addition, residents of cities that already have a police department, such as Ogden, would see a reduction in county property taxes and a net decrease in taxes overall. The eight contracted cities would likely be hard- pressed to form their own police departments or contract with other agencies for the amount the WCSO is seeking and the level of service it provides, Anderson said. For example, for a city the size of West Haven, which has about 11,000 residents, a police department with 15 to 18 employees would be needed, Anderson said. It would cost a minimum of $800,000 to $1 million to establish a department that size and would require an annual operating budget of about $1.5 million, he added. Weber County sheriff cost increases Cost increase per city for Weber County Sheriff's Office services: Current Proposed City/area contract contract Difference 38 Huntsville $28,590 $56,425 +$27,835 Marriott-Slaterville $190,927 $221,663 +$30,736 * Farr West $270/122 $465,037 +$194,915 Plain City $279,068 $380,954 +$101,886 Washington Terrace $834,255 $838,141 +$3,886 Hooper $279,867 $487,148 +$207,281 West Haven $354,100 $906,709 +$552,609 Uintah $68,267 $113,010 +$44,743 . Unincorporated areas $540,000 $1,449,124 +$909,124 County general fund $6,847,025 $4,774,010 -$2,073,015 Total $9,692,221 $9,692,221 Source: Weber County Sheriff's Office