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Bluff Council reviews amended FY2025 budget and tentative FY2026; votes to adjourn hearing
Summary
Town Manager Erin Nelson presented an amended FY2025 budget that increases revenues and expenses by roughly $1 million mainly for a Cooperative Cultural Center transfer; the council discussed generator and lighting projects, election funding timing, roads engineering and solar panel sequencing and will consider final approval in June.
BLUFF, Utah — Town Manager Erin Nelson presented the proposed amended fiscal year 2025 budget and the tentative fiscal year 2026 budget at a May 22, 2025, public hearing of the Bluff Town Council, saying the amendment would increase revenues and expenses "up to just over 1000000 dollars." Nelson said the change largely reflects capital transfers for the Cooperative Cultural Center (CCC) and grant-funded projects.
Nelson told the council that the town’s accounting keeps road and airport funds nested within the general fund but tracked separately for appropriation. She said the town currently expects the fund balance to increase by about $84,000, which could roll into next-year projects or be appropriated for capital work.
The hearing reviewed several project-specific items. Nelson said the town is pursuing a mobile trailer generator and is meeting with a partner (UNHS) to confirm specifications; she also reported that an electrical lighting replacement RFP went out Tuesday with outreach to roughly 50 firms and a mandatory walkthrough scheduled in June, with staff aiming to present qualified proposals for award at the council’s June 10 meeting. "RFP went out Tuesday," Nelson said, summarizing the procurement timeline.
On the CCC renovation, Nelson said the council’s roughly $320,000 contribution can be accounted for in two ways: transferred from capital projects into a special revenue fund and spent there, or processed through the general fund depending on whether the expense is a town expenditure or a partnership payment. Nelson said she currently has the transfer recorded through the general fund pending confirmation with the finance lead.
Council members pressed staff on elections and roads budgeting. Nelson said no election funding was budgeted in FY2025 because those expenses would be incurred in FY2026 if the town signs an interlocal agreement; she currently has $7,500 proposed for FY2026 elections, noting expected costs of about $3,500–$4,000 plus translation services and that the number could change after a county conversation. On roads, Nelson noted rolling appropriations for projects including Calf Canyon and Rhodes and flagged that professional services and engineering lines may need increases; she referenced a combined professional-services allocation of about $19,500 for the next fiscal year.
Council members also discussed solar panels: Nelson said most panels would be needed at the CCC because federal funding rules (including Buy America/Build America provisions tied to USDA and other grants) could restrict where foreign-made panels may be used; she has $150,000 appropriated for Bluff Community Center (BCC) solar currently slated for FY2027.
During roll call and discussion the council clarified revenue sources. Nelson initially described an energy franchise receipt as returning through "Pacific Corp," and council member Linda Sosa clarified the franchise is remitted by Rocky Mountain Power as the municipality’s utility franchise tax. "That was it's from Rocky Mountain Power. It's our franchise tax," Sosa said.
No members of the public spoke in person or online during the hearing. After concluding questions and public-comment opportunities, an unnamed council member moved to adjourn; the motion received a second and passed by voice vote. The town expects staff to finalize May numbers and return with the finalized amended FY2025 and tentative FY2026 budgets for council action, likely at a June meeting.
