The Utah Lake Authority on Nov. 12 approved amendments to its FY2026 budget after a brief public hearing in which staff outlined modest revenue and expense shifts and explained changes to the capital plan.

Sam, the authority’s operations lead, said the amendments reflect updated end-of-year numbers and grant outcomes. He said staff refined revenue projections and spread minor expense adjustments across accounts, increased employee benefits to cover a new hire’s benefits and reduced some operating costs (including EcoCounter software) where possible. Sam told the board the authority elected not to transfer funds from the general fund to the capital projects fund this year because of current operating needs.

Sam also said the capital projects budget was adjusted after the authority failed to secure a second ORI grant, which required removing associated access-enhancement expenses. For capital projects, he noted a $30,000 increase in the conservation/restoration project to support additional lab testing by the Division of Water Quality related to a PCB evaluation, with the aim of informing any future changes to fish consumption advisories.

The board opened a public hearing on the amendments, heard no public comments, and then approved the amendments by voice vote. The board also approved the associated long-range capital plan.

Votes at a glance: approval actions recorded at the meeting included (all voice votes): approval of the September 2025 meeting minutes; approval of Q1 FY2026 financial reports; adoption of Resolution 2025-02 (2026 governing board meeting schedule); approval of FY2026 budget amendments; approval of the Utah Lake Authority long-range capital plan; and approval of a resolution delegating authority to the executive director to negotiate property agreements. The board also voted to enter and later exit a closed session earlier in the meeting.

Why this matters: The amendments shift priorities modestly within the authority’s existing budget and authorize additional lab work on PCB presence—an item with direct implications for fish-consumption guidance and public health monitoring. The delegation of negotiation authority gives staff more latitude to pursue property agreements, subject to the terms of the adopted resolution.

What’s next: Staff will implement the budget adjustments in FY2026 accounting, proceed with the lab work on PCBs, and move forward on items in the long-range capital plan. The next authority meeting is scheduled for Jan. 22, 2026, at Provo City Hall.