Council hears brief budget requests from six departments, including neighborhood and emergency management priorities

South Salt Lake department heads presented five-minute summaries of priorities and budget requests at the April 23 council work meeting.

Sharon, speaking for the Department of Neighborhoods, said the department now has seven operational areas and 37 employees and asked the council to consider funding an additional deputy director to lead parks, facilities, urban forestry, real estate and capital-improvements planning. "Adding [an] additional deputy director ... would help us expand the capacity and our ability to get things done," Sharon said.

Crystal, the finance director, said her top request is upgraded technology to support staff training and virtual meetings and better accounting and reporting capabilities. She described a utility-assistance program launched with partner Utah Community Action, which has assisted six residents so far and is funded by donations.

Chris Merkin, city engineer, requested an extra $50,000 in the design budget to produce shovel-ready plans for aging infrastructure so the city can pursue grant opportunities and be less reactionary. "If we have some in the queue ready to go, I think we'd have a better chance at getting grant money," Merkin said.

Lisa Forster, court administrator for the South Salt Lake Justice Court, said the court is launching a community court for people experiencing homelessness and requested funding to improve facility security, including a new locking system after an evacuation exercise showed weaknesses.

Yasmeen (Emergency Management Coordinator) requested a one-time emergency-preparedness cash appropriation to supply food, water and supplies for two-thirds of city staff for four days in a major incident. "If we're asking them to come back, I believe we should be able to provide water, food, miscellaneous supplies," Yasmeen said.

Scott (IT) said the IT division supports citywide systems and recently deployed major software (Cartograph, Cityworks). He asked for an additional public-safety network specialist at an estimated annual salary around $75,000 plus benefits to support the technology needs of police, fire and courts.

Why it matters: the requests span personnel, capital planning, security and operational preparedness — items that the council will factor into the broader budgeting process.

Councilmembers were given time to submit follow-up questions by email or request additional materials from staff.