Kaysville council adopts tentative FY26 budget; staff flag staffing additions and shifting estimates

Kaysville city staff presented and the City Council approved a tentative fiscal year 2026 budget on May 15, a procedural adoption that satisfies a state timing requirement and allows the council to continue detailed budget work over the next months.

City staff emphasized the vote was for a tentative budget only, not the final tax or spending plan. "The tentative budget … must be approved by cities in their first regular meeting of May," a staff presenter told the council, and staff said they will continue budget work sessions before a final adoption.

Why it matters: tentative adoption preserves the council’s options while satisfying state deadlines. Staff said major figures can still change as property tax numbers and final cost estimates are received. As examples, staff said an earlier placeholder of $7 million for a gymnasium project was updated to an estimated $10.5 million after architects provided further information.

Key items disclosed with the tentative budget: - Staffing requests: the tentative budget includes three proposed new positions — an assistant city attorney, a police sergeant and a deputy fire chief — included as possible additions to maintain service levels. - Timeline: staff said they will hold an additional budget work session the week after the meeting, plan a budget public hearing at the June 5 council meeting, and — if there is a truth-in-taxation process — a hearing on Aug. 7 when the final budget would be adopted.

Council discussion focused on remaining questions about staffing, the gymnasium estimate and the need for more detail before final votes. Council members and staff scheduled a follow-up work session to discuss specific line items and personnel requests.

Action taken: a council member made a motion to adopt the tentative FY26 budget and a second was recorded; the council voted to approve the tentative budget. The vote was recorded in the meeting minutes as carried and staff confirmed another work session and a public hearing will be scheduled.

Ending: staff and council emphasized that the tentative budget is a step in the statutory process and that final allocations and tax rates will be set after additional review and public hearings.