Council renews Bluff Airport lease and reviews auditor guidance on airport funds

The Bluff Town Council voted unanimously on April 1, 2025 to renew the lease for the Bluff Airport for a 20-year term. Staff noted the annual lease payment is increasing to $1,368 per year until a new valuation is completed.

Audit guidance and financial tracking

Council members discussed a draft alert from the Utah Office of the State Auditor (draft notice dated 2025) recommending airport-related revenue and expenditures be tracked in a special revenue fund. Staff said the town will consult its accountant and likely propose a separate special revenue fund for the airport in the FY2026 budget planning to ensure compliance and transparency.

Operational concerns and next steps

Council discussed timing and obligations in the lease documents, including capital-improvement timelines consultants described elsewhere in the meeting (staff clarified that larger capital work is planned for 2029 under proposed improvements). Staff will confirm lease milestones and work with the town accountant to create a dedicated airport special-revenue fund for the upcoming budget cycle and will circulate the auditor draft to the council for comment before its April 25 comment deadline.

Council vote

Motion to renew the Bluff Airport lease (20-year term) passed unanimously on April 1, 2025. Council members recorded support while also expressing financial concerns about future capital obligations tied to the airstrip.

Ending: Staff will confirm lease milestones, post relevant documents and work with the accountant to set up a special revenue fund for airport receipts and expenditures in upcoming budgets.