Council advances ordinance to clarify conflict-of-interest disclosures for county officers

Salt Lake County Council advanced a first reading Sept. 15 of an ordinance to clarify conflict-of-interest and disclosure rules for county officers, employees and representatives.

A council sponsor said the amendment is a cleanup of existing ordinance and state law rather than a reduction in disclosure requirements. “We are not making it so that we do not have to disclose as much to you, that is incorrect,” the sponsor said, explaining Policy 14-30 will be repealed because it duplicated statute and created ambiguity.

Council moved the ordinance forward by voice vote. Sponsors and legal counsel said the update responds to an auditor finding and is intended to make obligations clearer for future disclosures and service on outside boards, with annual disclosure requirements included in the amended language.