Sandy City Council adopts 2025–26 budget after narrow vote to set stormwater fee at $7.67

Sandy — The Sandy City Council adopted its fiscal year 2025–26 budget on June 24 after a daylong public hearing and a narrow vote on the stormwater fee, the council’s most contested budget item.

The council voted 4–3 to amend the tentative budget and set the stormwater fee at $7.67 per month under a 15-year plan. The motion to set the $7.67 rate was made by Councilmember Hausman and seconded by Councilmember DeSouza; Councilmembers Hausman, DeSouza, Sharkey and Robinson voted in favor, while Councilmembers Stroud, DeKeyser and Meacom voted no. Later the council adopted the final budget resolution (Resolution 25-23C) by unanimous roll call.

Why it matters: The stormwater fee pays for both operations and capital projects such as flood mitigation and system repairs. Council debate centered on balancing long-term capital needs with the near-term cost burden on residents, particularly people on fixed incomes.

Council debate and reasoning

Councilmembers described a split between pushing for the full administration request and adopting a more gradual increase. Councilmember DeSouza said she supported a smaller increase because she did not have “the right information or data to speak to supporting this $2.50 increase to constituents.” She added the smaller amendment “gives me time to study this a…