River Heights council adopts $2.28 million tentative budget; moves to pursue COG spot grant for 600 South

River Heights City Council on Tuesday adopted a tentative fiscal year 2025–26 budget of $2,283,988 and approved a resolution amending the current-year general fund to cover health insurance, street lighting and a transfer to capital projects.

The tentative budget was presented by Mayor Blake Wright and adopted after a public hearing with no public comment. The council also discussed several capital and planning priorities that staff said they will carry into the final budget process in August, including stormwater work on Orchard Drive and pursuing a spot improvement grant from the regional Council of Governments (COG) for 600 South.

Why it matters: the tentative budget sets the city’s spending priorities while leaving time to adjust revenues and transfers before the final August adoption. Pursuing the COG spot-improvement funding could bring up to $400,000 for a road project but requires design work and multi-year planning.

Mayor Blake Wright said, “I just have 1 update. So I think you all are aware that we applied for a cog grant to improve 600 South from essentially the elementary school East to Tenth East.” Wright told the council the city initially sought about $560,000 but was told the project did not qualify under the main program and that staff should apply to a spot-improvement subcategory that can provide up to $400,000. Wright said county staff recommended the shift and that award timing would likely place funds in 2027.

Wright and staff said the COG application requires a 90% design submission before the August deadline. Wright said staff had a contractor estimate of about $10,000 to reach 90% design and recommended approving that design work so the city could apply; he noted the design effort would also make the project ready if other funding becomes available.

City Treasurer Michelle Jensen confirmed financing would likely come from the roads portion of the general fund and said staff would reconcile the line items before the final budget. Council member Lance Pitcher said the $10,000 design cost was “a no brainer” given the potential funding, and Wright said the council would “find the money” if necessary before August.

Stormwater and Orchard Drive: The tentative budget includes a general-fund contribution of $52,000 to the storm sewer fund and lists an Orchard Drive project estimate of $75,000, which staff said they budgeted conservatively. Wright told the council the stormwater fund revenue for next year is projected around $87,000 after the adjustments.

Utilities and studies: staff told the council they had priced a water-rate study and an updated water capital improvements list from the city’s engineering consultant Forsgren at about $4,000, and an updated impact-fee study at roughly $14,000. Staff recommended moving forward with those studies now and incorporating their costs into the final budget, saying the impact-fee work would likely be spread across water, sewer, parks and roads and that the park improvements will increase water demand.

Other budget items discussed: officials clarified that Apple Days parade and festival funding is included in the Apple Days lump budget (a $1,000 line item for the current year was discussed), that the city expects to follow up with the county on a population grant amount, and that the city had previously earmarked population-grant dollars for the pavilion concrete project. The council also discussed library contributions (current year $4,700) and said final shares may change when partner cities finalize their amounts.

Emergency preparedness: councilors discussed the emergency-preparedness line (previously $15,000) and a longer-running discussion about whether to buy a building generator. Public Works Director Clayton Nelson reported existing batteries and limited generator availability; councilors agreed to include generator needs in broader emergency-preparedness planning but noted the $15,000 line alone would not fund a full building generator.

Crossing guards and operations: councilors discussed the crossing-guard budget and whether responsibility lies with Cache County Sheriff Department as the traffic authority under state guidance. No transfer or formal agreement was approved; councilors said they would consult the city attorney and the sheriff’s office as they finalize the final budget.

Votes at a glance: the council approved the minutes from the June 3 meeting (motion and second; roll-call not specified), approved Resolution 4-2025 amending the current general budget (motion/second, no roll-call names specified), adopted the tentative FY2025–26 budget in the amount of $2,283,988 (motion/second, adopted), and closed the public hearing on the tentative budget. Final budget adoption will occur after the required public-notice/truth-in-taxation process in August.

What’s next: staff will proceed with the 90% design work if the council sustains the design authorization, finalize study contracts for water rates and impact fees in time for the August final-budget adoption, and follow up with the county and other agencies on crossing guards and the population grant.

Documentation: the council’s tentative budget documents are in the city SharePoint folder referenced at the meeting; Wright said the spot-improvement grant would, if awarded, likely result in funds received in 2027.