Utah League outlines ARPA deadline, housing plan, water, energy and federal bond risks heading into interim

Cameron Dale, director of the Utah League of Cities and Towns, told attendees at the league conference in St. George that cities should prepare now for several deadlines and policy fights during the interim, including an April 30 reporting deadline for ARPA funds and a state housing plan that must finish recommendations by December.

Dale said the league worked this spring to help 37 Utah cities that missed an earlier federal reporting deadline and that its staff and local administrative advisers preserved about 83% of $5,300,000 that otherwise risked being returned to the federal government. "You don't want to run the risk of having to recoup this money to the federal government," Dale said.

Why it matters: the interim sets the groundwork for the 2026 legislative session and contains policy work that can require local implementation and funding. Dale said the league will push members to engage year-round, not only during the session, to shape outcomes on housing, water, energy, public safety and federal policy that affect municipal budgets.

Top priorities and details

ARPA reporting: Dale highlighted a hard reporting deadline of April 30 for ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) allocations and said Treasury records showed 37 Utah cities had missed the December deadline, risking recoupment…