Interlaken council approves tentative FY2026 budget; proposes 15% county tax increase and council stipends

The Interlaken Town Council approved a tentative fiscal year 2026 budget Tuesday that proposes a 15% increase in Wasatch County property-tax revenue for the town to shore up road reserves, continues the full-year effect of a water-rate increase and includes a proposed ordinance to pay stipends to some council members.

The tentative budget, presented by town staff, would raise Wasatch County tax revenue from roughly $200,000 to about $230,000, generating an estimated additional $30,000 that the council intends to place into a transportation (road) reserve fund. Council members also included a $70,000 line for a water master plan and retained the full-year effect of a previously approved water-rate increase as a revenue source.

The tentative budget matters because Interlaken’s leaders said the town faces recurring, high-cost needs for road maintenance and water-system upgrades — liabilities that councilors described as the town’s core assets. With several costly repairs in recent years, council members said building reserves now reduces the likelihood of a large special assessment later.

Town staff summarized changes and asked the council to set the tentative budget for public hearings. The draft shows that over the town’s 10-year history the federal and state governments have contributed roughly 28% of non-utility revenue, and that the majority of local spending has gone to roads and the water system.

Key items in the proposed FY2026 budget include: - A proposed 15% increase to Wasatch County tax revenue (estimated +$30,000) to be directed to the transportation reserve fund. - The full-year effect of a previously approved water-rate increase, producing an estimated $245,000 in water revenue next fiscal year. - A proposed ordinance to pay stipends: $200 per month each to the mayor and treasurer (described in the budget appendix as a proposed ordinance) and $25 per meeting to three council members; the ordinance text is included in the budget appendix. - A $70,000 contract line for Jones & DeMille Engineers to prepare a water master plan, including geotechnical soil investigation, topo survey and GIS mapping intended to support future grant/loan applications and a possible line-replacement project. - Road maintenance and capital items including crack sealing, patching and shoulder work; staff cited a recent paving bid (Echols Paving) of about $32,000 for crack sealing and a broader road-repair estimate grouped in the budget at roughly $48,000. - Budgeted contingency for a possible contract with the Wasatch County Sheriff’s Department for town-specific ordinance enforcement (included as a line item of $12,000 in the draft budget).

Council discussion emphasized reserve-building and fiscal prudence. Greg, a council member, said, “I am as hesitant as I am to raise taxes on myself and everybody else, my biggest fear is that we fall behind in our ability to take care of the liabilities of this town, which are also our assets, and those are the roads and the water system.”

A resident commenter, Chuck, praised the approach: “Thanks and congratulations for proposing a budget that includes critical elements of planning, particularly on the water infrastructure,” he said.

The council voted to set the tentative budget and to schedule the required public hearings. A council motion to approve the tentative budget was made and seconded and was approved (motion text: “motion to approve the tentative budget for 2026”; mover and seconder were not recorded in the audio). The town clerk and staff said the council will hold two public hearings (one for the tentative budget and one on the stipend ordinance) and the regular meeting on June 3; if the tax increase is pursued the town will also schedule a TNT (truth-in-taxation) hearing before the state deadline.

Next steps: the budget and supporting documents will remain on the town website for public review; the council plans public hearings at the June 3 meeting and anticipates further adjustments to the tentative budget before final adoption.

Votes at a glance: - Motion to approve meeting agenda: approved (recorded as “Aye”; no roll-call tally recorded). - Motion to approve April 1 regular meeting minutes: approved (recorded as “Aye”; no roll-call tally recorded). - Motion to approve the tentative FY2026 budget and schedule hearings: approved (mover/second not recorded; public hearings scheduled for June 3).