Kane County Commission adopts 2025 budget, trims some public-health spending and reallocates tourism tax for fire and projects

KANAB, Utah — The Kane County Commission voted unanimously Dec. 17 to approve the county's 2025 fiscal-year budget after a public hearing and discussion that included cuts to county-funded public-health services and targeted reallocations of tourism tax dollars.

Shamil Lamb, the county clerk and auditor, presented the recommended budget, saying, “the budget right now includes a proposed increase for the cost of living of 2.5%” and that the county's medical-insurance costs are projected to rise about 10%. Lamb told commissioners the recommended general fund for 2025 is $16,412,602, an increase of $917,732 from 2024, driven mostly by salary and benefit changes and several one-time capital projects.

The budget funds multiple capital projects the commission discussed during the hearing: a Sand Dunes road project supported by an anticipated roughly $5.4 million federal grant; construction of a community outreach building that will house recovery services and drug-court offices; an ongoing recreation-center build funded in part by a proposed $2 million transfer from the TRT (restaurant tax) fund; and a remodel and expansion of the tourism office and a fairgrounds building. Lamb also said the county expects roughly $70,000 in opioid-settlement receipts this year and that about $223,000 of ARPA funds remain and will be used, in part, for a courthouse remodel loan payment.

Commissioners debated operating choices during the hearing. The board agreed to reduce the county's annual contribution for Southwest Public Health from $200,000 to $100,000 and to ask the public-health provider what services it would deliver at that funding level. Commissioners discussed eliminating the county-funded free flu-shot program and reducing public-health hours, but several members said any reductions should be phased or scoped to avoid unintentionally leaving vulnerable residents without access.

Lamb read the partner agency's budget worksheet, which showed a projected public-health program budget of about $209,370; line items included $18,750 for flu shots and $2,500 for other immunizations. Lamb said the county previously paid for a portion of a clerk position and an environmental-health scientist and that the county's contribution could be adjusted to match services the partner provides at a lower funding level.

On tourism-tax spending, commissioners agreed to shift $40,000 of TRT money to cover an increase in wildland-fire costs driven by a state formula change and to use TRT balances to support selected projects, including roads and the rec center. Lamb estimated TRT revenue near $5 million and outlined proposed allocations such as $1.5 million for roads, $400,000 for EMS, and a $500,000 'projects' pool that would provide flexibility for items such as the fairgrounds or trail amenities.

During the meeting the commission also approved a set of 2024 budget openings and bookkeeping corrections: recognition of contract revenue and trial reimbursements, adjustments to attorney expense lines, an unanticipated retirement payout at a community center, and transfers to reconcile prior-year expenses. The commission voted unanimously to adopt Resolution 2024-40 implementing those 2024 adjustments.

Commissioners approved a motion transferring funds between expenditure lines to cover various payroll and benefit items (active living center, recorder, Kanab Center and strikeforce support). Lamb said the departments had sufficient budget or fund balance and that the transfers were needed so payroll could be posted correctly at year end.

All votes recorded at the meeting were unanimous. Commissioners said they would continue to refine service levels with partner agencies and track fund balances closely through the next year.

The morning session adjourned and was recessed until 2 p.m. the same day.