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South Salt Lake staff outline contingency plans as key grants remain pending in FY25–26 budget
Summary
City budget staff told the City Council on June 11 that several grant awards tied to after‑school and arts programming remain unresolved because of a federal tax bill delay; staff described contingency measures including additional grant applications, foundation outreach and a planned executive director hire for the arts council.
At a June 11 South Salt Lake work meeting, Crystal, a city staff member, told the City Council the city had not lost a $10,000 Best Buy tech center refresh grant and expects the award to be finalized later in the grant cycle. She said other grant notifications are delayed while Congress resolves a tax bill, and staff have developed contingency plans if expected funding does not arrive.
The funding uncertainty matters for after‑school centers and arts programming: the city is budgeting for a new arts council executive director post and is awaiting several grant awards that support programming and staff salaries.
Crystal said the Best Buy tech center refresh grant “is for $10,000. We did not lose it. We actually applied for it later in the year in November, and then we were awarded it in January.” She added that the timing of that grant’s award cycle differed from the city’s budget cycle, which is why it was not included in the draft FY25–26 numbers. On the arts council, Crystal said the proposed $100,000 increase in salary line items reflects a decision to hire an executive director after longtime arts council staffer Leslie Allen retired.
Crystal said the city is still waiting for notice on several grants because “much of this spending is in the tax bill that Congress is working through right now” and that grant providers have been slow to confirm awards. She told the council the federal bill could take “another month to pass” and that, while waiting, city staff were applying for additional grants and pursuing foundation funding to diversify revenue.
Nick, a staff member, said the city “could potentially end up getting more grant money if the tax bill goes through and we get all the previous … grants,” while Crystal emphasized the city maintains contingency plans for programs that rely on grant funding. Crystal also said prospective employees for grant‑funded positions sign agreements acknowledging their positions depend on grant funding.
When asked which program was most at risk, Claris (first name only in the transcript) said the 21st Century after‑school funding is the most uncertain. Crystal explained the city structures its Promise program so that multiple grants cover different costs—one grant for site salaries, another for programming—so that the loss of any single grant would not automatically close a center. She said staff are also looking at consolidating or condensing programs if necessary.
No formal budget votes or final decisions were recorded during the work meeting; staff said they would provide updates once more grant award notices arrive.
Staff provided the council with the plan and said they would return with more precise budget adjustments when award notifications are finalized.
