Wasatch Front Regional Council adopts FY2026 budget, goals and UPWP

The Wasatch Front Regional Council adopted its fiscal year 2026 goals, budget and Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP) on May 22 after a public hearing and prior review by the council’s budget committee.

Vice Chair of the Budget Committee, Mayor Jeff Silvestrini (pinch‑hitting for the committee chair), moved approval of the budget package. The motion carried by voice vote.

Marion Florence, WFRC finance staff, and Andrew Gruber, WFRC executive director, summarized the budget in brief. The FY2026 proposed budget includes a modest 3 percent increase over the prior year and funds ongoing staff and consulting work. Florence said the budget is conservative and serves as an upper bound on expenditures; multi‑year projects will be adjusted after year close.

Staff highlighted two notable items in the UPWP and budget: a new multi‑year, $1.1 million activity‑based travel modeling project to replace the region’s traditional trip‑based model (to be undertaken in partnership with UDOT, UTA and MAG), and an incoming federal Safe Streets and Roads for All grant to conduct roadway safety audits across the region (grant agreement pending).

Revenue sources include federal formula funds, state partnerships and local matches. Marion Florence said federal planning funds are a major revenue source for WFRC operations and that state and local contributions cover matched and non‑federal activities.

The council also received and filed a required annual fraud‑risk assessment; staff reported WFRC’s controls place it in a “very low risk” category per the state auditor’s framework.