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Layton is a city that has seen consistent growth. In 2000, it had 58,474 residents. As of a year ago, it had almost 70,500. A lot of taxpayers' money goes toward Davis County's largest city. Tax revenues and expenditures have seen changes.
Now Layton city taxpayers have a quick, efficient method of finding out how their dollars are being spent. The city's Web site has a breakdown of Layton's revenue and expenditures over a multi-year period. The report, at this time, is mostly summary information. It provides a schedule of expenditures and a breakdown of money received. The city's demographics are also included.
In our opinion, this is great news. All governments should seek to bring out the sunshine when it comes to providing information taxpayers have a right, and in fact a civic duty, to keep an eye on. The more transparency there is for all, the more voters and others are able to keep tabs on elected officials and make sure they are performing in an honest, competent and forward-thinking manner.
Those interested can log on at laytoncity.org and see the city's "Condensed and Comparative Fiscal Reports" up to June 30, 2008. The current information has a five-year report on city finances. Layton city Finance Director Steve Ashby hopes to eventually up the information to 10-year comparatives of revenue and expenditures. Ashby recently presented printed copies of Layton city's five-year report during a city council meeting. It drew praise from Layton Mayor Steve Curtis and City Councilman Mike Bouwhuis.
"We're in an economic downturn and I think it is prudent the taxpayer know where their dollars are, and what is being done with them," Curtis said.
Layton, like many other cities, has had some tough economic years. In his recent, very tight re-election victory, Mayor Curtis was criticized by opponent Bob Stevenson for overseeing a period of downward revenue years. Sales tax revenues have indeed declined in Layton in recent years. Residents and other interested observers can now take a much closer look at the city's economic history and become better informed on how the city is managed by its leaders.
