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 little bit more while still understanding that there is need there.”

Councilmember Stroud pressed for more outreach and earlier work sessions, saying the topic “needs more than just the 30 minutes that was committed to it last week” and that incremental annual increases might avoid “sticker shock.” Councilmember Robinson urged a middle approach, proposing a friendly suggestion that would have equated to about a 12‑year plan at roughly $8.08 per month; he ultimately voted with the majority for $7.67.

Administration and advisory input

Public utilities staff and administration referenced prior studies and advisory recommendations. Tom Ward summarized the 2023 Zion’s Bank analysis, which had projected a $7.80 monthly rate in 2023 and an increase to $9.75 in 2026; Ward said inflation and not having recent rate increases left the utility behind in revenue. He noted the city previously adopted a policy that historically allocated stormwater fees 60% to capital and 40% to operations; staff recommended keeping that split but acknowledged the council can revisit it.

Budget adoption and related actions

After the stormwater vote the council approved the final FY2025–26 budget. The mayor and council highlighted employee compensation and preserving services as priorities in a constrained fiscal year. Mayor Monica Zoltanski also announced a private donation to support Alta Canyon: she said the Larry H. Miller Family Foundation increased a prior pledge and will contribute $2,000,000 toward the Alta Canyon rebuild.

Votes at a glance (items acted on June 24)

- Motion: Set stormwater fee at $7.67/month (15-year plan). Mover: Councilmember Hausman; Second: Councilmember DeSouza. Vote: 4 yes (Hausman, DeSouza, Sharkey, Robinson), 3 no (Stroud, DeKeyser, Meacom). Outcome: Approved. (This amended the tentative budget.)

- Motion: Include Councilmember Sharkey and Chair Aaron de Kiser budget amendments (amendments approved June 17 and June 24) and adopt final budget (Resolution 25-23C). Mover: Chair Aaron de Kiser; Second: Councilmember Meekum. Vote: unanimous. Outcome: Approved — FY2025–26 budget adopted.

- Motion: Allocate one-time funds for a public art initiative per the attached budget amendment from Chair Aaron de Kiser. Mover: Chair Aaron de Kiser; Second: Councilmember Meekum. Vote: passed (roll call recorded: DeKeyser yes, Meacom yes, Robinson yes, Stroud yes; Hausman no, DeSouza no, Sharkey no). Outcome: Approved as a one-time allocation; council directed that guidelines be developed and brought back for implementation.

- Motion: Adopt Resolution 205–26C to transfer and reduce appropriations for the fiscal year commencing 07/01/2024 and ending 06/30/2025 (cleanup items including moving community events from administration to parks and recognizing the loss of a race trails grant). Mover: Councilmember Meekum; Second: Councilmember Stroud. Vote: unanimous. Outcome: Approved.

- Motion: Adopt Alta Canyon Recreation District budget (Resolution 205–24C) for the fiscal year commencing 07/01/2025 and ending 06/30/2026 and establish fees and charges. Mover: Chair Aaron de Kiser; Second: Councilmember Robinson. Vote: unanimous. Outcome: Approved.

What’s next

Councilmembers asked for more public engagement and additional work sessions on stormwater policy and utility rate timing so future increases might be phased more gradually. Administration said it will return with additional public outreach and proposed operational/capital plans tied to the adopted fee schedule. The mayor and staff said the Alta Canyon rebuild will proceed with the city’s set‑aside funds and the Miller Family Foundation gift; staff said they will pursue grants and private funding to help close remaining gaps.

Ending

Council members emphasized the difficulty of budget tradeoffs in a tight fiscal environment and asked administration to return quickly with implementation details and any needed adjustments during the fiscal year.