Price City Council adopts midyear budget revision, approves water studies and multiple vendor contracts

Price City Council on March 26 approved a midyear revision to the city’s fiscal year 2024–25 budget and authorized several studies and vendor contracts tied to water treatment, stormwater work and city maintenance.

During a public hearing, a city staff member identified as Lisa told the council that “the city's budget during this revision was decreased by the largest reason for that was due to the water fund,” and summarized changes including removal of a previously budgeted $30,000,000 treatment‑plant improvement from this fiscal year and the addition of a $71,000 drinking‑water planning grant. The council then approved Resolution No. 2025‑009 adopting the revised budget.

Why it matters: The midyear revision reallocates funds and updates anticipated grant revenues, affecting timing for large capital projects such as water‑treatment upgrades and a street shed project whose construction estimate has risen. Several of the actions approved at the meeting authorize studies or contracts that will shape the city’s ability to apply for and use state and federal funding.

Budget highlights and staff summary

Lisa said the largest change in the revision was to the water fund: the $30,000,000 treatment‑plant improvement originally budgeted for this year will not occur this fiscal year and so was removed from the current budget; the revision does add $71,000 for a drinking‑water planning grant tied to a springs‑line replacement study. She also told the council the stormwater fund gained a $2,300,000 USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) grant and a $600,000 Community Impact Board (CIB) grant/loan related to flood mitigation; the city included $100,000 in local funding for regrading at Wood Hill associated with that project.

Lisa described higher-than-expected pool repairs: bids showed replacement of both boilers was more economical than repairing a single, worn unit; the council approved an additional transfer from the city’s capital ("zap") tax of about $162,000 with the pool fund balance covering the remainder. She said general fund tax revenues were revised down by about $84,000 and that the city’s originally planned use of general‑fund reserves (about $912,000) was projected to fall to roughly $700,000 after the revision. Lisa also noted that a new rural transportation allocation the city had budgeted at $371,000 arrived this year at about $189,000, complicating near‑term street project financing; streetwork bids increased from an original estimate of $450,000 to an expected $700,000–$750,000.

Water studies and engineering agreements

The council approved two items tied to water treatment planning and design: - A Planning Principle Forgiveness Agreement with the state Drinking Water Board to fund additional study of Price City and Price River Water Improvement District resources. Lisa described the funding as a forgivable loan (she said the state “uses the term forgivable loan” and that it functions like a grant). The planning study amount in the materials and discussion was $71,000. The council moved and approved the agreement by voice vote. - An engineering services agreement to perform a plant consolidation study (same $71,000 amount) and an engineering services agreement with Hazen & Sawyer for a plant‑upgrades phasing study at $21,290. Staff said the phasing study will reassess an earlier $42,000,000 design and identify smaller, higher‑priority measures (for example, options to address seasonal algal blooms and filter redundancy) that could be constructed sooner and at lower initial cost. Council discussion noted the studies are intended to produce recommendations for council consideration; any further action would require additional council approval.

Contracts and procurement actions

Several procurement items and contract awards were approved with voice votes. Relevant bid details discussed in the meeting include: - Project IC‑20‑25 Price City Sewer Cleaning: the transcript lists a low bid amount of $130,605 and records another bid from ProPipe PPE at $252,701.50; the meeting record as provided does not clearly name the successful bidder in the spoken motion materials. The council approved the project by voice vote. - Project 2C‑20‑25 (grounds/spring maintenance): Castle Valley Landscaping was awarded a contract at a bid of $41,269.44. The council approved the award by voice vote. - Project 3C‑20‑25 (Price canal overgrowth removal): Castle Valley Landscaping was awarded the low bid of $8,745; other bids mentioned included Family Tree ($9,500) and Delbert Thane Construction (around $50,375). The council approved the award by voice vote. - International Days drone show: the council approved a contract for a drone light show (listed as OpenSky) for a 12–14 minute show at $15,000; staff said the item is budgeted within the International Days line and that the event committee will seek sponsors to offset the cost.

Other business and consent agenda

The council approved the consent agenda (items A–F) and then closed the meeting after a short period of unfinished public business. Multiple motions throughout the meeting were recorded as made by Council Member Miller, Council Member Richardson and others with various seconds (Council Member Willis, Council Member Jesperson) and carried by voice vote; no roll‑call tallies were provided in the spoken record.

What comes next

Staff said the plant consolidation study will take approximately four to five months once the consultant begins; the Hazen & Sawyer phasing study is intended to produce a prioritized design that staff and council can use when seeking grants or phasing construction. For the projects funded by USDA NRCS and the CIB loan, staff indicated additional implementation steps and coordination with those funders will be required.

Votes at a glance

- Resolution No. 2025‑009 (adopting the FY 2024–25 revised budget): Approved (motion by Council Member Miller; second by Council Member Willis; voice vote). - Planning Principle Forgiveness Agreement (Drinking Water Board; planning study): Approved (motion by Council Member Richardson; second by Council Member Jesperson; voice vote); project/study amount discussed: $71,000 and described in meeting as a forgivable loan/grant. - Engineering services, plant consolidation study (consultant agreement): Approved (motion by Council Member Miller; second by Council Member Willis; voice vote); amount $71,000. - Engineering services, plant upgrades phasing study (Hazen & Sawyer): Approved (motion by Council Member Willis; second by Council Member Jesperson; voice vote); amount $21,290. - Project IC‑20‑25 (Sewer cleaning): Approved (low bid listed at $130,605; other bid ProPipe PPE $252,701.50); transcript did not clearly specify the awarded contractor name in the spoken motion. - Project 2C‑20‑25 (grounds/spring maintenance): Castle Valley Landscaping awarded at $41,269.44; approved by voice vote. - Project 3C‑20‑25 (Price canal overgrowth removal): Castle Valley Landscaping awarded at $8,745; approved by voice vote. - International Days drone light show contract (OpenSky; 12–14 minute show): Approved at $15,000; approved by voice vote. - Consent agenda items A–F: Approved (voice vote).

(Voice votes were recorded for many actions; the transcript provided no roll‑call vote tallies or named yes/no votes.)