Purchases, Payments, and Costs Between Counties

Utah Code tit. 17, ch. 17-63, pt. 17-63-P5

in effect

Utah Code § 17-63-501 Encumbrance system -- Purchasing agent -- Purchases or encumbrances by purchasing agent.

17-63-501. Encumbrance system -- Purchasing agent -- Purchases or encumbrances by purchasing agent. (1) Each county shall use an encumbrance system or other budgetary controls to ensure that no expenditure is made for any item of an appropriation unless there is a sufficient unencumbered balance in the appropriation and available funds, except in cases of fiscal emergency or natural disaster as described in Section 17-63-404. (2) A person may not make a purchase or incur an encumbrance on behalf of a county unless that person acts in accordance with an order by, or approval of, the person duly authorized to act as purchasing agent for the county, except encumbrances or expenditures directly investigated and specifically approved by the executive or legislative body. (3) Unless otherwise provided by the governing body, the finance officer or the finance officer's agents shall serve as a purchasing agent. Renumbered and Amended by Chapter 13, 2025 Special Session 1

Utah Code § 17-63-502 Expenditure limitation.

17-63-502. Expenditure limitation. (1) No county officer or county employee may make any expenditure or encumbrance in excess of the total appropriation for any department. (2) Any obligation that is contracted by a county officer or county employee in excess of the total departmental appropriation is: (a) the personal obligation of the officer or employee; and (b) unenforceable against the county. Renumbered and Amended by Chapter 13, 2025 Special Session 1

Utah Code § 17-63-503 Warrants -- Payment -- Registration -- Duty of auditor.

17-63-503. Warrants -- Payment -- Registration -- Duty of auditor. (1) Warrants drawn by order of the county executive on the county treasurer for current expenses during each year shall specify: (a) the liability for which the warrant is drawn; (b) when the liability accrued; and (c) the funds from which the warrant is to be paid. (2) Warrants shall be paid in the order of presentation to the treasurer. (3) If a fund is insufficient to pay any warrant, the warrant shall be registered and then paid in the order of registration. (4) Accounts for county charges of every description shall be presented to the county auditor or county finance officer and county executive to be audited as prescribed in this chapter or Chapter 69, County Auditor. Amended by Chapter 105, 2026 General Session

Utah Code § 17-63-504 Costs between counties on removal of criminal actions.

17-63-504. Costs between counties on removal of criminal actions. When a criminal action is removed before trial, the costs accruing upon the removal shall be a charge against the county in which the indictment or information was found or filed. Renumbered and Amended by Chapter 13, 2025 Special Session 1

Utah Code § 17-63-505 Costs between counties from change of venue in civil cases.

17-63-505. Costs between counties from change of venue in civil cases. (1) (a) Except as provided in Subsection (2), in a civil case where change of venue is granted from one county to another, the costs and expenses connected with the proceedings shall be refunded by the county in which the action originated to the county in which the case is tried or is otherwise resolved. (b) The county attorney of the county that receives a civil case following a change of venue shall certify the amount of costs and expenses to the county attorney of the county wherein the civil case originated. (2) Subsection (1) does not apply to a civil case where the change of venue is granted because the civil action should have been filed in the county to which the case is taken for trial. Amended by Chapter 105, 2026 General Session

Utah Code § 17-63-506 County legislative body may adopt Utah Procurement Code -- Retention of records.

17-63-506. County legislative body may adopt Utah Procurement Code -- Retention of records. (1) A county legislative body may adopt any or all of the provisions of Title 63G, Chapter 6a, Utah Procurement Code, or the rules made under the authority of Utah Procurement Code, as described in Section 63G-6a-107.4. (2) Whenever any county is required by law to receive bids for purchases, construction, repairs, or any other purpose requiring the expenditure of funds, that county shall keep on file all bids received, together with proof of advertisement by publication or otherwise, for: (a) at least three years after issuing any contract to one or more responsive bidders; or (b) three years following the first advertisement for the bids, if all bids received for that advertisement are rejected. Renumbered and Amended by Chapter 13, 2025 Special Session 1

Source: Utah Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel (le.utah.gov)URL: https://le.utah.gov/xcode/Title17/Chapter63/17-63-P5.html?v=C17-63-P5_2025110620251206Fetched: 10/26/2026