Uintah County approves budget resolution recognizing $14.59M NRCS pass-through and other grant funds

Caleb Hall of the clerk/auditor’s office presented Resolution 3-25-2025 R1 to the Uintah County Commission on March 25, describing a set of budget adjustments that increase recognized expenses while adding offsetting revenues, mostly from grants and pass-through funds.

Hall said the largest item in the package is a federal pass-through from the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) for the Ashley Watershed, which he listed as $14,589,100; other items included $632,000 in revitalization funds for Lucky Acres Phase 2 and a $175,000 rural communities grant intended to extend utilities to airport hangars.

Hall described additional items: a $17,000 pass-through grant for the airport to be forwarded to Vernal City, carryover funds for the Western Park capital project (including ice-rink remodel and amphitheater work), and departmental grants and carryovers for sheriff and community-development programs.

The commission opened a public hearing on the resolution; no members of the public spoke. After discussion, a commissioner moved to approve the resolution as presented. The motion carried on a voice vote; the meeting record shows affirmative votes.

Commissioners and staff noted the paperwork shows a “budget increase” format because revenues and expenses must be balanced in county accounting even when the additions are grant-funded. One commissioner said much of the package was pass-through money and carryover funds rather than new local spending.

The resolution closes a public-hearing step required to recognize the grants and update the county’s budget and fund balances.