Willard City Council adopts FY26 budget, schedules work session to refine fees and service plans

WILLARD, Utah — The Willard City Council adopted the city—iscal year 2026 budget on June 12, approving Resolution 25-09 after a public hearing and voting to hold a work session to refine revenue options including user fees and emergency-service funding.

The council opened a public hearing on Resolution 25-09 and later passed the budget after discussion about tight enterprise funds and possible revenue options. Mayor (unnamed) opened the hearing and Councilmember Mike Schultz moved to open the public hearing; the motion was seconded by Councilmember Jake Sawyer. After debate and additional staff presentations the council voted to adopt the budget.

Why it matters: Council members and staff said water and sewer enterprise funds are not accumulating sufficient cash to cover future repairs and replacements. Finance staff and advisors warned that depreciation and inflation have left the city with limited reserves for capital projects; the council directed staff to return with options before truth-in-taxation decisions.

Budget highlights and fiscal context - The budget as adopted includes a $113,000 truth-in-taxation adjustment figure reflected in planning materials presented to the council. Council members said the city currently receives roughly $305,000 per year in property tax revenue, and the $113,000 figure represents an itemized increase reflected in budget planning. - The budget package also assumes new user-fee revenue of about $186,000 intended to cover costs tied to an ambulance program and building (presented as an assumed funding source in the package). The council voted to adopt the budget while pausing execution of certain capital purchases until follow-up work sessions.

Staff presentations and council direction City finance advisor Ryan explained how the water and sewer funds are structured and why current user fees do not build sufficient cash for future replacements: "The depreciation expense... really should be covered with user fees," he said, warning the council that the city faces the prospect of significant repairs without adequate cash on hand.

Councilmembers asked staff to: (1) prepare a follow-up work session within the next week to refine fee and revenue options, (2) delay moving forward on two budgeted vehicle purchases pending further discussion, and (3) continue negotiations with Cache County and ambulance providers about service-sharing and potential staffing arrangements that could offset daytime ambulance staffing costs.

Next steps and timeline The council set a short timeline for a work session (scheduled for June 16 at 5:00 p.m. in council chambers) to develop revenue options that could be considered ahead of truth-in-taxation public hearings. Staff said final budget action must be shown to the state by July 1.

What the vote did The council voted to adopt Resolution 25-09 by voice vote. Councilmember Mike Schultz made the motion and Councilmember Jake Sawyer seconded it; the chair called the motion carried. The council recorded no roll-call tally in the transcript excerpted at the meeting.

Ending note Council members emphasized that adopting the budget was intended to meet statutory timelines while giving staff the direction and time to refine user-fee proposals and to continue discussions with county partners about emergency-service cost-sharing.