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SALT LAKE CITY — Unincorporated Salt Lake County residents will be free from the dreaded Unified Police Department fee in two years.
The Senate unanimously approved a repeal of the monthly charge by Dec. 31, 2012. HB226 now returns to the House for the speaker's signature.
Sen. Daniel Thatcher, R-West Valley, became emotional as he talked about people in his district begging him to do something about the fee. "I weep for those we failed today," he said, adding it was shameful and "an absolute failure on our part" that the fee lingered for two years.
The Legislature granted the county authority to create the UPD in 2009 with the understanding it would be revenue neutral. But an $11 million budget shortfall due largely to slumping sales-tax revenues prompted the Salt Lake County Council to impose a fee on residents and businesses for police service.
"This was a clear and egregious breach of public trust," Thatcher said.
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