The opinions stated in this article are solely those of the author. 

Davis County residents have heard numerous stories of Californians leaving expensive coastal cities and relocating along Utah’s Wasatch Front. The reasons are usually economic: everything from taxes to gasoline to rent to tasty restaurant charcuterie boards are dramatically less expensive here.

Although the move increases housing prices in Davis County, it is beneficial for Utahns. Sell a house in San Francisco for $2.6 million, buy an even larger place in Bountiful or Farmington for $1 million, and there’s an extra $1.6 million to spend or invest in our community. 

For that reason, I suggest Davis County officials and local mayors open their arms to Christine Costner, the soon-to-be former wife of actor Kevin. In fact, many readers have spent hours on social media reading of the couple’s bitter fight over the actor’s estimated $250 million fortune. Kevin is a favorite among Utah moviegoers, and his lead role in the “Yellowstone” series has earned him wide praise. The guy looks like he could be a Utahn and wears a cowboy hat with panache. With the fame comes a check. He reportedly earns some $20 million annually and lives in a house (actually an estate) worth $145 million.

Kevin admittedly owes Christine $1.5 million due to a prenup agreement, and sources say he’s handed over another $1 million so she and their three children could lead their “normal” California lifestyle. The disagreement was with the child support: Kevin offered $38,000 per month and Christine demanded $248,000. A judge split the difference. 

A Davis County residence would be a good thing for Christine. I’m sure she could find reasonable housing, since there are numerous listings of five to six bedroom retreats available for a measly $2 million, a mere pittance of California prices. At current interest rates and with no money down, Christine could purchase a $3 million mansion in Davis County for only $18,471 per month, only 12% of her child support check. And when child support ends, she can use her prenup money and other income to refinance at a lower rate.

She’d opt for private school for her teenagers (ages 16, 14, and 13). But again, private schools here are less expensive. Figure another $18,000 per month for enrollment in the area’s toniest private secondary schools. 

After housing and tuition, she still has some 76% of her child support money. The Costners report they spent $800,000 annually on gifts. Obviously Christine would have to cut back a bit there. As for a clothing budget, most of us could get by on spending $15,000 per month on sweats, tees, and designer shoes. Nordstrom would still invite her to special sales events.

And that still leaves her two-thirds of her monthly child support to fork over at restaurants and martini bars. She wouldn’t have to clip Burger King coupons for her dinner plans.

Davis County taxpayers should welcome Christine’s money, and we’d pay more attention to her than her husband who is always flying around the country on movie shoots.

I’d be the first to drop by her house with a housewarming gift: a loaf of fresh-baked bread. I bet that’s a neighborly act she never saw in Santa Barbara! 

Bryan Gray, a longtime Davis County resident, is a former school teacher and has been a columnist for more than 26 years in newspapers along the Wasatch Front.