Utah’s capital city is looking to add approximately $4.1 million to its current budget to address mostly public safety issues, but none of the new spending is expected to affect its general budget.
It comes as city leaders prepare for potential budget “uncertainties” in the coming months.
- Salt Lake City is expected to receive $3.2 million from the state to help mitigate the impacts associated with winter overflow at homeless shelters, which it has already budgeted toward police personnel costs — the first year that the city is planning to do that with the money.
- It’s also set to receive $666,000 from the Utah Division of Outdoor Recreation, which will go toward “removing hazardous vegetation to improve safety, navigation and habitat” along 9 miles of the Jordan River. The ultimate goal is to create an “urban oasis” supporting outdoor recreation activities like boating, fishing and birdwatching, but it follows similar cleanups this year, especially in sections that were closed this year over crime concerns.
- Another $224,000 comes from the Davis County Sheriff’s Office through a grant it received, which reimburses the city for the purchase of equipment. The money is expected to be used on new license plate reader cameras to be placed atop traffic light poles at major intersections in the city, such as Beck Street, according to the city. These are often used by departments to help identify potential suspects or help in cases involving missing people or stolen vehicles.
City officials have had public hearings on all three items since July, but they will hold one last hearing on the budget amended Tuesday night before a potential vote to adopt the changes to the budget afterward. Although none of the additions would impact Salt Lake City’s general fund, city leaders received an update on its finances as part of a discussion about the measure ahead of the potential vote.
Utah’s capital is currently on track to land almost $485.3 million in taxes, charges and other revenue sources, which is a little more than $350,000 short of its budget this fiscal year, the city’s finance department reported on Tuesday. They said milder weather and “subdued” natural gas prices are big factors, causing about a $700,000 shortfall so far in natural gas tax collections…