Much has changed in Uintah County in the last decade thanks to millions of dollars in funding for infrastructure. 15 years ago Uintah County was receiving an average of $3 million dollars in funds from the Community Impact Board. According to former Commissioner Mike McKee, the average now, even during a time of downturn, has tripled that and is over $10 million dollars. In the last ten years the average amount of CIB funding was closer to $27 million dollars annually and at its peak reached $37 million dollars. McKee served on the CIB board for most of his tenure as a Commissioner and says the value of those funds and what they have done for the Uintah Basin is immeasurable and well deserved. Over half of the mineral lease money generated in the state of Utah comes out of Uintah County. Many local leaders worked together to see that the contributing counties get a bigger share of the pie and since 2007 that has been the case. $225 million dollars in grant money has been returned to the Uintah Basin, which McKee points out is more than all the property taxes combined.
