WFRC budget committee backs FY26 goals, budget and unified planning work program for council approval

The Wasatch Front Regional Council Budget Committee voted May 8 to recommend the full WFRC council approve the agency’s fiscal year 2026 goals, budget and Unified Planning Work Program and accepted its consent agenda. Commissioner Lee Perry moved to forward the FY26 materials to the council and Councilman Scott Wardle seconded; the committee approved the recommendation unanimously.

The recommendation matters because the WFRC’s proposed budget for FY26 maintains core regional planning work and relies largely on federal funding. Marion, a WFRC staff member, said the proposed budget shows a roughly 3 percent increase versus the initial budget from the prior year, driven primarily by salaries and contractual work for studies and model development. Marion said staff made only “very modest technical corrections in the work program, but nothing of substance,” and that the documents had been posted for public comment and shared with councils of governments with no substantive changes returned.

Committee discussion emphasized the stability of the federal revenue stream that funds a large share of WFRC activities and noted continuing uncertainty at the federal level. A staff member reminded the committee that the current multiyear authorization (the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act) remains in effect and that authorization for highway programs expires in calendar year 2026. The committee heard that the Administration’s budget proposals have not targeted transportation reductions and that infrastructure funding tends to draw bipartisan support.

Members were briefed on two funding-related items in the FY26 materials: (1) tentative federal approval to proceed with a previously budgeted Safe Streets for All grant, which staff said was awarded in January and appears to be moving forward; and (2) the local administrative adviser program, where a recent statewide reduction in appropriation had reduced funding in prior legislative action but carryover funds and timing mean WFRC can fully fund that program through the coming year. Mayor Dandoy and others noted ongoing state-level discussions about restoring or augmenting that line in future budgets.

The committee also received the agency’s FY25 fraud risk assessment. Marion said WFRC remains in the lowest-risk category and credited “tone from the top” and internal controls, including recent policy changes separating deposit and reconciliation duties. Marion said the assessment will be submitted to the state auditor at the required time.

The committee will present the FY26 goals, budget and Unified Planning Work Program to the full WFRC council on May 22 for final action. Staff noted they will be available at the council meeting to provide a brief overview and respond to questions.

Votes at a glance: The committee approved the consent agenda (minutes of March 17, February and March financial statements and check registers, and current financial report) and voted unanimously to recommend the WFRC fiscal year 2026 goals, proposed budget and Unified Planning Work Program be forwarded to the full council on May 22. The FY25 fraud risk assessment was presented; no action was required.