Ogden approves $118.4 million budget amendment; sets public hearing on FY2026 tentative budget

Ogden — The Ogden Redevelopment Agency and later the Ogden City Council on Tuesday approved a broad budget amendment that recognizes new grant revenues, loan proceeds and internal transfers totaling about $118,395,800 and cleared several project- and equipment-specific appropriations across the city’s funds.

The amendment recognized large water‑project financing, airport grant matches and other one‑time and recurring needs while city staff set a June 3 public hearing to receive comment on the mayor’s proposed FY2025–26 tentative budget.

City staffer Justin Sorenson told the board the budget opening bundles many “cleanup items” and new revenues, and that the total package is substantially larger than typical budget openings because it includes both prior‑year fund balance and expected interest earnings. Sorenson said the amendment incorporates $7,000,000 in additional resources composed of $4,000,000 of prior‑year fund balance and about $3,000,000 of anticipated interest income for the current year.

Why it matters: The amendment shifts and recognizes money the city says it already has or expects to receive so projects with external matches can move forward. Several appropriations leverage federal and state sources, which city officials said increase the total investment in projects beyond the city’s local share.

Key allocations and actions - Water fund: The amendment recognizes loans and awards for the canyon waterline project, including a $34,000,000 state award, a $42,000,000 WIFIA loan and roughly $10,000,000 in additional state funds; Sorenson said the total increase to the water fund is just over $87.5 million. These entries primarily recognize external financing the city has obtained for the waterline project. - Airport fund: Staff proposed matching or local commitments to three FAA‑related projects (Runway 321, the south apron and a cargo apron) and to equipment and demolition tied to a new tower. Sorenson listed proposed local matches/transfers of about $175,000 for Runway 321, $400,000 for the south apron and $450,000 for the cargo apron, and additional appropriations for equipment and demo work. - Fleet and equipment: The refuse fund will increase by $2,300,000 to allow the city to order five refuse trucks now (with five more planned in FY26). The city also proposes to buy a used aircraft rescue and firefighting (ARFF) truck from Salt Lake City to create redundancy at the airport rather than purchasing a new truck priced over $1 million. - RDA/housing and property: The RDA portion includes a $350,000 appropriation from general fund balances to the quality neighborhoods/housing program to cover asbestos removal and demolition at the recently purchased Aspen Care facility. The RDA board voted to adopt Resolution 2025‑12 (voice and roll‑call recorded) and adjourned. - IT, facilities and grants: The city proposed $650,000 for city‑wide computer replacement (partly needed to upgrade older devices before Windows 10 end‑of‑support), $400,000 to facility improvements tied to public‑safety training, and nearly $1.2 million in new grant appropriations across departments for no‑match and match programs.

Votes and procedural steps - The Ogden Redevelopment Agency (RDA) voted to adopt Resolution 2025‑12 amending the RDA budget (motion by Board Member Graff; second Vice Chair Hyer; roll call recorded as Ayes by Graff, Myers, Blair, Hyer and Chair White). Following the RDA action, the board adjourned. - In the city council meeting that followed, the council adopted the corresponding ordinance to amend the city budget (roll call vote recorded as Aye by Council members in attendance). The council later set a public hearing for the tentative FY2026 budget for June 3 by voice vote.

Public comment and concerns Several members of the public spoke during the RDA and council public hearings. Linda Sanchez said she was troubled by the practice of shifting funds between allocations and asked whether the changes would increase her taxes and whether the city’s priorities reflect what taxpayers want. Heath Sato (online) urged councilors to be “transparent and present both benefits and drawbacks” of tax increment financing (TIF) districts, warning that rising property values in TIF areas can increase property tax bills for long‑term residents on fixed incomes even without a formal tax‑rate increase. Sato suggested the city consider targeted relief for vulnerable residents in TIF areas.

Council response and context Council members and staff repeatedly described many of the appropriations as recognition of external grants, reimbursements and loans that cannot be spent unless appropriated locally. Council members pointed to the airport items as examples of modest local matches that unlock much larger federal grant awards: one councilor noted roughly $1.04 million in city commitments produced about $9.5 million in matching grants for airport projects. Staff also emphasized the amendment corrects accounting and cleanup entries and that the larger water‑project numbers reflect financing the city has already secured.

Next steps and budget schedule City staff presented an overview of the FY2026 budget process and resources. Glenn Symes walked through public resources and scheduled budget work sessions; he said no property‑tax increase is proposed and recommended residents use online line‑item budgets and “significant changes” documents for details. The council will hold additional work sessions and hearings in late May and June; the tentative budget public hearing is set for June 3, and staff will publish materials and hold an open house on May 27 for residents to speak with department staff.

Copies of staff presentations and line‑item schedules are available on the city’s budget page for residents who want to review the underlying line‑by‑line changes and the set of proposed personnel and capital changes planned for FY2026.

Ending note: The council’s action recorded several substantial one‑time and multi‑year entries that primarily recognize outside funding and loans. Public commenters flagged potential distributional effects of development policies such as TIF; councilors and staff said they will continue outreach and budget transparency work as the FY2026 process proceeds.