“The tight recommended budget appropriations will allow us to delay the tax increase until 2007,” Clerk/Auditor Steve Rawlings said.

Officials had planned to raise taxes to operate a new 400-bed jail expansion that is under construction.

Or, as one critic put it, maybe they are hoping residents will be more forgiving of the attempt by the all-Republican commission, two years ago, to pay for the jail in one shot with a 138 percent tax hike.

“Was this done to avoid having a $35 dollar tax increase appear on the tax notices that arrive just weeks before next year's election?” asked Bountiful resident Ron Mortensen.

He criticized commissioners for their role as board members of other taxing entities in the county who have raised taxes this year. Mortensen also pointed out that Commissioners Dannie McConkie and Carol Page are up for re-election next year.

McConkie said county department heads sought an additional $12 million but were turned away during the budget process.

“We chose, instead, to respond to the residents who have asked us to keep the tax money in their pockets as long as possible,” he said.

Allocations in the budget will pay for 37 new employees, some of whom will fill positions at the new Centerville library and the new jail wing.

County employees will also receive a 2.25 percent cost-of-living raise and an additional 1 percent match to their retirement funds.

The county will also begin paying $239,000 loan payment for the next 10 years to help construct a new ice sheet at the South Davis Recreation Center. The loan will be paid with money derived from tourism taxes, Rawlings said.