Salt Lake County Council member Dea Theodore, a Sandy resident for nearly two decades, on Wednesday, Aug. 5, publicly defended the county's decision to stop running its own daycare centers and hand operations to three nonprofit partners.
The move saves roughly $2 million a year in General Fund dollars that had been subsidizing childcare for about 270 children at four recreation centers, Theodore wrote in a Salt Lake Tribune op-ed. None of those centers were in Sandy.
"The Salt Lake County Council didn't simply eliminate a program. We worked together to build a better model — one that better serves low-income families, makes more responsible use of taxpayer dollars and relies on organizations whose mission is providing childcare," Theodore wrote in the Aug. 5 op-ed.
The financial case was stark. An independent analysis by the Pathway Group found the county was spending $6,000 to $10,000 per child annually. Only 17% of enrolled children were receiving state childcare assistance through the Utah Department of Workforce Services, and income was never verified during enrollment. A whistleblower audit also uncovered fraud at the Kearns Recreation Center daycare.
The old program operated at just 50% capacity and served 271 families during the school year.
From 5-4 to unanimous
The council's initial vote to eliminate the childcare budget passed 5-4 on Oct. 29, 2025. But the subsequent vote to approve the nonprofit partnership model was unanimous, 7-0. Theodore framed that shift as evidence of compromise, not weakness.
Three organizations now run the former county sites: Salt Lake Community Action Program operates an Early Head Start program at the Magna Recreation Center, YouthCity leases space at the Northwest Recreation Center, and Centro de la Familia de Utah provides childcare at the Millcreek Activity Center. Each partner leases space at reduced rates in exchange for prioritizing income-qualified families.
During the transition, the county extended its closure timeline, connected parents with state childcare resources and transferred surplus equipment to the nonprofits.
As we reported July 22, Council Chair Aimee Winder Newton called the transition "one of the more difficult decisions we've faced" but said she was encouraged that facilities remain a resource for families.
What it means for Sandy families
Sandy had no county daycare site, and the county has not disclosed how many Sandy families used the program. But Theodore's op-ed highlighted expanded free summer programming at recreation centers countywide, including Dimple Dell Recreation Center at 10670 South 1000 East.
The county's My County Rec Pass gives all residents 18 and younger free access to recreation centers with no renewal required until the holder turns 19. At Dimple Dell, that includes Teen After Hours events with pool, rock wall and gym access for ages 12 to 18.
As of July 22, 12,828 youth had enrolled in county summer programs since the transition began.
The county's Child Care Task Force is shifting from managing the transition to long-term planning, including monitoring the nonprofit partners and coordinating with the state's Childcare Task Force. No date has been announced for the task force's next public meeting.
Dimple Dell Recreation Center offers free programming for youth with a My County Rec Pass. For current schedules and registration, call (385) 468-3355.
