Summit County Council reviews proposed emergency services sales-tax grant program

Summit County officials are shaping a new grant program funded by the emergency services sales tax voters approved in 2024 to help local emergency responders cover upgrades and maintenance tied to tourism pressures. County staff presented a proposed grant process to the County Council in a Feb. 4 work session and asked for direction and feedback on how to structure awards.

County Chief Financial Officer Matt Leavitt projected the 0.5% tax will generate about $16.5 million in 2026, described as the first full year with the tax in play. In December the Council earmarked approximately 5% of that revenue for a fledgling grant program, a figure Park Record reported as about $840,000. The staff report from County Manager Shayne Scott cites Utah Code §59-12-802 as the statutory authority and lists the statutorily permitted uses: emergency medical services, solid waste disposal, search and rescue, law enforcement and fire protection services.

Under the criteria publicized so far, organizations seeking grants must demonstrate that their operations are affected by tourism and that requested funds will go toward one of the eligible categories. County materials attached to the Feb. 4 agenda include files titled StaffReportESSTGrant.doc and EMS Sales Tax Grant Program.doc; staff requested the Council provide direction and feedback to the County Manager regarding the proposed grant process.

The Council work session was held electronically via Zoom with an anchor location at the Summit County Courthouse, 60 N. Main Street, Coalville. The agenda directed residents to view the meeting on the Summit County, Utah Facebook page, join the Zoom webinar or listen by phone at 1-301-715-8592, Webinar ID: 772 302 472. Public comment could be submitted by email to publiccomments@summitcountyutah.gov by 12:00 p.m. on Feb. 4, 2026, and the agenda included a public input period following presentations.

Policy debates at the meeting reflected differing views about targeting limited funds. Councilor Chris Robinson warned that North Summit faces higher local taxes and a weak tax base, saying, “Taxes are pretty high over there (in North Summit). They don’t have the taxbase that we do elsewhere.” Robinson also cautioned that infrastructure shortfalls will take time to fix: “North Summit has very antiquated facilities and equipment in some instances. It will take many, many budget cycles to make a dent in that. If we gave it all to them, it wouldn’t solve it, and I’m not suggesting we do that. I think we ought to let the system run for a bit and check on it again.” Park Record noted lingering questions about the long-term stability of smaller departments.

County staff and the Council face several outstanding decisions before grants are awarded: the formal application and scoring criteria, whether awards are one-time or ongoing, the precise launch date and how the earmarked dollars will be distributed among eligible agencies. Park Record reported the program is expected to launch later this year.

Summit County residents should expect more detailed rules and an application portal as staff refines the program and returns to the Council. In the near term, citizens can follow Council work sessions, submit public comment to publiccomments@summitcountyutah.gov, or monitor the Council’s posted agenda materials for the finalized grant guidelines. Park Record used a file photo credited to David Jackson.