Riverton City formally joins Unified Police Department, changes funding mechanism
Jan. 1 brought more than just resolutions for Riverton residents, as the city was annexed into the Salt Lake Unified Police Department.
According to Rod Norton, who received the title of Riverton police chief during the change, Riverton City, which has been contracting with the Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Office since 1980, will continue to receive the same high level of service previously provided.
“Changes were subtle in that the same service level remained under UPD that was established previously,” Norton said, “but the UPD provides more local control to city mayors. It also provides more transparency in their budget and policy. That’s very important to local municipalities and local cities.”
Jeff Hawker, assistant city manager, said a driving force behind the switch between contracting and becoming a part of the UPD is that, for the most part, it will save money for both residents and the city of Riverton.
“Not paying the police contract anymore is an overall savings to the city of approximately $ 4 million that it won’t be paying,” he said. “So those savings are being used to offset [resident costs]. It’s beneficial for the city as an entity, and we believe that it’s beneficial for the people as well.”
The police contract was formerly funded through the city, but will now be funded as a part of the Salt Lake Valley Law Enforcement Service Area, with money from property taxes. The former city tax rate for residents was .00088, but as of the start of the year, the city will no longer withdraw property taxes from residents.
In order to pay for police services through the new contract, residents will be charged a .00190 property tax rate, an increase which Hawker said will equal out to about $143.64 for the average property owner.
“Prior [to the annexation], Riverton paid for police services with a contract,” Hawker said. “Now it will pay for it this way … The city made three changes to help offset this cost that will be on the property tax form – it eliminated all city property taxes, and reduced sanitation and street light fees.”
According to Hawker, the weekly sanitation fees were decreased from $12.50 per week to $1, along with the elimination of the $5.41 per month street light fee. Because of the changes, Hawker said each resident’s savings on their city statement would be approximately $202.92, depending on property value. With the increased property tax subtracted from that sum, the average homeowner would receive a savings of $60 a year because of the switch.
Herriman also joined the UPD at the start of the year. Along with Riverton, the UPD serves White City, Granite West, Willow Canyon, Willow Creek, the Sandy Hills and Southeast communities, Copperton, Holladay, Midvale, Magna, Taylorsville and Millcreek.
“The other thing that is the best part of this, aside from the savings, is the transparency of it,” Hawker said. “Up to this point, because of how it’s structured, the city has been the go between with the cost of police service each year in renewing the contract. Citizens in Riverton want to know how much they’re paying but really aren’t able to. Now they can see exactly what police service is costing by looking at their property tax bill.”
Because of the new funding mechanism, anytime the UPD wants to increase taxes for funding, it will be required to have a hearing where residents can speak in support of or against the fees, allowing Riverton more control of the service rendered and the cost.
“The important part, and the important message I think about is, it was one of the last big pieces to the UPD for providing local identity for the city,” Norton said.
Future goals of the Riverton precinct include improving traffic safety, building neighborhood networks though various programs, and providing a model of effective policing that will last for many years to come.
