Mayor says Orem—s Utopia fiber partnership left taxpayers about $48 million net
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Summary
Mayor Dave Young criticized Orem's participation in the Utopia public-private fiber network, saying the city paid roughly $52 million and received about $4 million back, leaving a net negative of about $48 million and limited household take-up.
Mayor Dave Young described the Utopia public-private fiber network as a poor long-term investment for Orem.
"Essentially, they invested Orem and other cities invested close to $200,000,000, and within a few years, that $200,000,000 was worth 50,000,000," Young said. He told the interviewer that Orem had paid roughly $52 million into Utopia and received about $4 million back, leaving a net loss of about $48 million.
Young said roughly 40% of Orem households now use Utopia service, which he called a "big success story," but emphasized that 60% of taxpayers are paying for a system they do not use.
He framed the model as a cautionary example of public-private partnerships that carry long-term fiscal exposure: "If you go the free market path, you don't sit here with a $50,000,000 negative deficit to get your Internet."
Young said the city continues to write an annual net check to Utopia (about $2.5 million in recent years) from the general fund.