Orem mayor highlights no-tax city hall financing, management reforms and a parks preservation resolution

Mayor Dave Young told an interviewer that the city's new $37 million city hall was financed without bond debt or a tax increase.

He said the project included about $9 million in grant funding and used savings accumulated through more-efficient budgeting, and that the council approved the plan 7-0.

Young also discussed internal management reforms he said helped avoid tax increases: a citywide management consulting review that examined every department, formation of a "strategy and innovation" team to coordinate process improvements, and the hiring of a full-time grant writer who Young said has brought "millions" of dollars into the city. He cited an initial $1.1 million in savings from reorganization and process changes.

On parks and open space, Young said Orem maintains roughly 23 parks and converted a former school site into the Hillcrest Park. He said the city passed a resolution — which he described as among the first of its kind in Utah — requiring that designated school or park land remain a school or park if declared as such.

Young also said the new city complex will include a Gold Star memorial to honor service members.