Far West adopts tentative 2025–26 budget; council debates building-inspector hire, possible city administrator and sheriff cost increase

Far West — The city council adopted a tentative fiscal 2025–26 budget on unanimous vote after a work session where staff and council members detailed revenue estimates, capital projects and staffing priorities.

City staff presented a draft budget showing modest revenue increases driven by sales tax and property tax estimates and several one-time or uncertain items. The council discussed staffing requests including a new building inspector to address rising permit and inspection workload and a longer-term suggestion to hire a city administrator to provide administrative continuity.

Finance staff member Cody said sales tax is the city’s largest revenue source and that the draft projects a sales-tax increase of roughly $113,000 and a property-tax estimate up about $87,000. Cody told the council that the property-tax estimate will be revised after the county certifies rates in June and that other revenue items, including permit fees and grant income, are estimated conservatively.

Councilmembers flagged several lines in departmental budgets. Council discussion focused on: - Building department staffing: Councilmembers said Building Official Nate is “run ragged” and needs at least one full-time inspector to sustain growth and avoid burnout. Several members urged prioritizing a building-inspector hire for the coming fiscal year, saying permit-fee revenue could help offset the cost. - City administrator: Multiple councilmembers raised the possibility of creating a city-administrator position to support continuity between elected administrations and to handle administrative workload, but they did not expect to fund that position in the coming year. - Public safety costs: Staff presented a preliminary county sheriff assessment of about $775,000 for the city’s share next year. Council members said the county appears to be shifting more costs to cities and that the city has been using franchise tax revenue to offset increases; staff warned the sheriff assessment could increase Far West’s cost by about $200,000 in the coming year under one scenario. - Grants and the general plan: Staff recommended hiring outside help to update Far West’s general plan this year. The council discussed applying for Wasatch Front Regional Council grant funds (which would require a local match estimated in the $20,000–$30,000 range) to cover much of a professional update and design work for Meadows Park’s first phase. Planning Commission vice chair Lyle and staff will continue work on the general-plan amendment and land-use maps this summer. - Capital projects and utilities: The draft budget includes a proposed $750,000 capital estimate for work coordinated with Jones Engineering (phase 3 footings/foundations), $250,000 for a public-works facility contribution, and split funding for a back trailer among sewer and stormwater funds. Staff also proposed passing through a Central Weber sewer increase (6.65%), raising the city’s unit charge from about $29.07 to roughly $31.00, effective July 1. - Vehicles and sanitation: Capital-asset replacement includes roughly $200,000 budgeted to rotate three sanitation trucks. Staff noted programs that previously guaranteed dealer buybacks have changed and sale values may vary. - Senior center and recreation: Council discussed senior-center activities funding; staff said activity expenses (including lunches and occasional catered meals) remain in a general activities line to give the senior-center coordinator flexibility.

After discussion, Councilmember [name not specified on record] moved to adopt the tentative 2025–26 budget; the motion passed unanimously in a roll-call vote.

Why it matters: The tentative budget sets spending and staffing priorities ahead of final adoption later this summer. The council flagged rising public-safety assessments, building-department capacity needs tied to projected growth, and a planned general-plan update that could shape land-use and capital projects for years.

Looking ahead: Staff will adjust property-tax estimates after the county certifies rates in June, begin grant outreach for the general-plan update and Meadows Park design, and return draft language or budget amendments when more precise figures are available.