Strength in numbers

The country’s first district formed in 1790 to step in and provide prison services. Nearly 100 years later, the first district came to Utah in support of library services.

Although special districts as we know them today date to Utah’s statehood in 1913, and to the Utah Code that shaped them, strength in numbers carried them back then as surely as it does the 400 special and local districts today.

When you bring them together in an organization such as the Utah Association of Special Districts (UASD), even more is accomplished. That’s particularly true on the legislative front as each member faces the challenge of its individual mission. Consider the following:

• No single person or special service district is smarter, more capable or more important than the team as a whole. If the group’s leader is a great listener, all of that power will focus on getting your concerns addressed and solutions adopted. At UASD, we’re proud of our record in Utah’s 2016 Legislative Session, where three-quarters of the 52 House and Senate bills we supported for our members passed and only one of the 16 we opposed passed. The latter only met approval after considerable tweaking, making the legislation more agreeable to our issues.
• In working together, UASD also offers members opportunities for education and administrative direction. Training sessions in a variety of topics are always in the works; go to our website to stay on top of what’s coming up. Or it might just be a reminder to file your board contacts on the Utah Public Notice website.
• We keep constituents in the public sector aware of the services provided by Utah’s districts. After all, they represent animal control officials, fire and water crews, and more. These leaders handle issues that affect Utahns’ daily lives. Visit our Facebook page and other social media channels to keep your finger on the pulse of our collective work.

For more information on the benefits of joining UASD, check out our website at uasd.org. There is strength in numbers, and we’re proving it every day.