Skip to main content

Smart Government Fund

The purpose of this initiative is to fund ideas that demonstrate a strong return on investment by reducing operating costs, generating new revenue, saving time, and/or improving public services delivery to Salt Lake County residents.

Funding for the SGF approved projects will be considered if an application meets one or more of the following priorities:

  1. Save Money
  2. Save Time
  3. Efficient Service Delivery

Only Salt Lake County agencies are eligible to apply for Smart Government Funds and all employees are encouraged to submit project ideas.

Services

Links

Resources

A cat with green eyes.

Robo-Traps for Community Cats

The Robo-trap project introduces technology to effectively trap community cat colonies through the implementation of Total Targeted Trapping.

Learn More

A close-up of a hand holding a syringe.

Use of AI for Equity in Tax Valuation

The project will utilize artificial intelligence (AI), specifically neural network models, to enhance the capabilities of appraisers in their tasks related to tax valuations and market value estimations.

Learn More

A group of colorful balls.

Linking County Assets to Facilities Work Orders

The primary goal of this project is to tag and scan all major County assets into the Facilities work order system (FAMIS).

Learn More

All Funded Projects

  • Status: In Progress
  • Lead Agency: Animal Services
  • Funding Amount: $50,000

The Robo-trap project introduces technology to effectively trap community cat colonies through the implementation of Total Targeted Trapping. Equipped with game cameras, officers will set up the necessary equipment to monitor and record the total number of cats visiting the food source, providing an accurate assessment of the cat population in the area before initiating trapping operations.

This project will yield cost savings by reducing the number of necessary spays if a colony is trapped before it expands. Additionally, the use of remote viewing capabilities will save time for Animal Services staff by allowing them to assess the contents of the trap remotely and make informed decisions about when to close the trap and retrieve the cat. The remote viewing feature will eliminate the need for multiple trips, enhancing operational efficiency. 

Moreover, the Robo-trap implementation will decrease wait times for Salt Lake County residents seeking assistance with community cat issues. By responding to multiple calls and deploying Robo-traps in multiple locations simultaneously, Animal Services will be able to address the needs of residents more promptly and efficiently.

Smart Gov Fund Priorities: Time Saved, Money Saved, Efficient Service Delivery

  • Status: In Progress
  • Lead Agency: Assessor’s Office  
  • Funding Amount: $77,000

The project will utilize artificial intelligence (AI), specifically neural network models, to enhance the capabilities of appraisers in their tasks related to tax valuations and market value estimations. By harnessing the power of AI, the existing staff will be empowered to detect potential issues in assessments and identify errors before the May 22nd assessment deadline. This proactive approach will ultimately ensure ongoing accuracy and fairness in the evaluation process, benefiting both the taxpayers and the county. Moreover, the accurate property tax assessments resulting from this initiative will lead to increased tax collection for the county and other taxing entities. 

 Smart Gov Fund Priorities: Time Saved, Money Saved  

  • Status: In Progress
  • Lead Agency: Facilities Services  
  • Funding Amount: $59,893 

The primary goal of this project is to tag and scan all major County assets into the Facilities work order system (FAMIS). Major County assets, defined as those with a replacement cost exceeding $2,500, amount to a total of 4,744 assets, including Electrical (1,456), HVAC (1,862), Plumbing (118), and Carpenter (1,308) assets. To facilitate easy scanning and linking within the FAMIS work order system interface, each asset will be assigned barcodes or QR codes. 

 By implementing this project, we will be able to target the replacement of high-maintenance and expensive assets more effectively. This, in turn, will significantly reduce maintenance expenses and the costs associated with emergency replacement parts. Additionally, the project will decrease the amount of time required by trades staff to keep County assets operational, resulting in reduced downtime at County facilities. Ultimately, these improvements will positively impact the experience of citizens utilizing County facilities. 

Smart Gov Fund Priorities: Time Saved, Money Saved, Efficient Service Delivery