LFA unveils dynamic funding follow‑up tool and lists potential reductions for committee review

Gary Syphus and staff from the Legislative Fiscal Analyst’s Office presented the committee’s updated annual funding follow‑up report on Oct. 14, 2025. The report is a dynamic, searchable record of projects the Legislature has funded in recent sessions, the implementation status of those appropriations and suggested follow‑up actions.

The report matters because it establishes a searchable starting point for the committee’s base budget review and highlights awards that were appropriated but remain unspent or unclaimed, offering potential one‑time savings for the base‑budget process.

What the report shows and potential adjustments

LFA staff showed the new online dashboard and a static handout summarizing funded items. Gary Syphus said the database contains hundreds of funded items (the report lists about 411 items overall, with about 89 he identified as related to this committee). LFA staff said roughly half of the items they reviewed appear to be performing as expected; others require follow‑up or reconsideration.

Staff highlighted several items for committee attention, including:

- DABS warehouse expansion and associated retail staffing funding (awarded in the 2023 general session): LFA staff noted timing and implementation delays and flagged approximately $2.1 million in one‑time funds as a potential reduction candidate pending further review.
- Utah Museum of Contemporary Art capital campaign facade and entry improvements (awarded in 2022): the funding had not yet been awarded; LFA listed it as a possible cut subject to agency reporting.
- Utah State Railroad Museum Authority amendments (awarded in 2022): funds remained unawarded and were identified for possible reduction.
- Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) grant (~$2.9 million): LFA said a recent audit of the program raised substantive findings, and staff suggested pausing or reconsidering remaining award amounts until audit concerns are resolved.
- A grant to the Atlanta Atlantis Foundation (awarded 2023): the final payment remained contingent on a reporting requirement that had not yet been met, creating another candidate for delay or reduction.

Nut graf — why this matters

The follow‑up report is designed to help the committee find one‑time savings, tighten accountability and adjust the base budget for the next session. LFA staff said the report is the first step in a multistage process: it identifies candidates for change, then staff will track agency responses and recommend specific base budget adjustments during the formal budget process.

Next steps for committee review

LFA asked the committee to accept the follow‑up process and to direct staff to continue pursuing missing reports and implementation updates. Staff said they will return with finalized recommendations and possible dollar adjustments for the committee’s base budget work during the next steps of the appropriations calendar.

Ending and administrative note

Committee members voted to adopt the accountable budget recommendations and other procedural motions later in the meeting; LFA staff said they would continue to refine the list and work with agencies to clarify status and realize any appropriate reductions.