Taken as a whole, I believe Davis County is still on the right track.
By John Crofts
Davis County Commissioner
Publisher, DavisUtahWeekly.com
Taken as a whole, I believe Davis County is still on the right track—even as we wrestle with difficult issues, tough budget decisions, and legitimate disagreements about the role of government.
Over the past year, I’ve been trying—openly and consistently—to start a serious conversation about bringing a true county-wide newspaper back to Davis County.
I’ve raised the idea in multiple Commission meetings and held a public town hall focused on civic engagement and local media. The publisher of the Davis Journal attended that town hall, and we had a thoughtful discussion about the future of local journalism in our county. I’ve advocated publicly and repeatedly for stronger local reporting.
The reaction has been sharp and immediate.
Most critics say the same thing: newspapers are dead, and government should never spend money on a paper—not even the cost of a gallon of milk per household.
I believe that thinking is not only wrong—it’s dangerous.
Recent Tax Confusion Proves the Point
The Davis County School District raised taxes by nearly $100 per household. By far, the School District takes the largest share of the property-tax pie—and did so without cutting even 2% of 1% from its budget.
If Davis County had done nothing—if we had simply continued business as usual—the required tax increase would have been nearly 30%. Instead, the County partly listened, tightened its belt, scrutinized spending, and limited the increase to 14.9%.
This wasn’t what everyone wanted—and I understand that frustration. But even at 14.9%, Davis County is tightening its belt and operating under real financial constraints.
Yet the result was this:
The Davis County Commissioners were blamed for both tax increases.
Why?
To be clear and fair: the Davis Journal is an excellent newspaper. Reporter Becky Ginos regularly attends meetings and does outstanding work covering county issues. I would love for every resident to read her thoughtful and accurate reporting.
But even with that effort, Davis County still lacks a true county-wide newspaper—one that consistently explains who sets which taxes, how much each entity collects, and who actually made which decisions.
Without that clarity, accountability collapses into confusion.
Context Matters—And So Does Perspective
Davis County is one of Utah’s 29 counties.
We’ve had excellent decisions—and we’ve made mistakes. That’s the reality of governing in a fast-growing county.
There have also been poor strategic proposals. And when residents got involved—showed up, asked questions, demanded clarity—policy decisions changed for the better.
That pattern matters.
When citizens are informed and engaged, Davis County makes better decisions. Taken as a whole, the County remains on the right track.
The Untold Story: Davis County Employees
County employees have taken real hits—reduced benefits, increased workloads, and ongoing uncertainty.
Yet the truth is simple: Davis County employees are among the best anywhere. Other counties envy their professionalism and dedication. They don’t work here just for a paycheck—they work here to serve the community.
Why a Newspaper Still Matters
For less than the price of a gallon of milk per household, we could strengthen local journalism.
Instead, we rely on short videos, social media, and soundbites.
Those don’t explain budgets.
They don’t attend long meetings.
They don’t follow decisions over time.
The Founders protected a free press for a reason. An informed public is essential to self-government.
A Newspaper-Less County Struggles to Fly With Vision—But Our Second Defense Is Informed and Educated Delegates
A newspaper-less county struggles to fly with vision. Without a shared source of facts, clarity suffers.
Even so, Davis County is not defenseless.
Our second defense is an informed and educated body of caucus and convention delegates.
Delegates are different—and that difference matters.
They read. They attend meetings. They study issues. They ask hard questions. They commit enormous time and effort to becoming informed.
In an age dominated by TikTok and social media, delegates stand far ahead and above everyone else in civic seriousness.
That is why I trust delegates—more than signatures. Signatures can be rushed or emotional. Delegates are chosen by neighbors precisely because they are thoughtful and engaged.
Winston Churchill once said of the Royal Air Force:
“Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few.”
Just as the RAF was the pick and flower of England, our convention delegates are the pick and flower of Davis County.
They are not a replacement for a free press—but in its absence, they remain a critical safeguard of our local Republic.
Wisdom still exists.
Thoughtful citizens still exist.
Our responsibility is to make sure their voices are not hidden—and that Davis County continues to fly with vision.