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Cottonwood Heights council adopts amended FY25–26 budget, confirms several appointments and a consulting contract
Summary
After a public hearing, the Cottonwood Heights City Council approved an amended FY25–26 budget and ratified multiple appointments and a consulting agreement; one council member abstained on the consulting contract because of a personal relationship with the contractor.
The Cottonwood Heights City Council on Feb. 17 approved Ordinance 4-62 adopting an amended fiscal-year 2025–26 budget after a staff presentation and public hearing.
Administrative and Fiscal Services Director Scott Jurgis told the council the amendments are revenue-neutral overall and include line-item changes supported by new revenues and reimbursements. He listed several specific additions: approximately $11,393 in state reimbursements for police overtime; $850 in restitution reimbursement; $64,006 in overtime-event reimbursements tied to university and school events; a $1,000 sister-city donation; and a newly available county local transit tax expected to bring about $400,000 that staff plans to transfer to the capital projects fund.
The ordinance adopting the amended budget passed on a council vote. Council member Newell moved adoption and the motion was seconded; council members Burrell, Newell, Hyland and Matt Holton voted yes and Mayor Benyon also recorded a yes vote.
Why it matters: the amendments allocate newly recognized revenues and reimbursements to match related expenses and to move a new county transit tax into capital projects rather than the general fund, steps officials said are required to keep accounting aligned with actual receipts.
In related city business the council considered and approved several resolutions: Resolution 2026-12 appointing members to the Unified Fire Authority Board (motion passed unanimously after a correction to the posted alternate); Resolution 2026-13 ratifying appointments to the Citizens Budget Advisory Committee (council emphasized that committee meetings are public, advisory in role and subject to attendance and disclosure requirements); Resolution 2026-14 approving a consulting agreement with Carrie Nakamura and Associates to support the budget process; and Resolution 2026-15 appointing a member to the Health in the Heights advisory committee.
Noted voting detail: Resolution 2026-14 passed with an abstention. Council member Newell announced he must abstain from the consulting-agreement vote because of a relationship with the contractor; other members voted to approve.
Votes at a glance: Ordinance 4-62 (amended budget) — approved (unanimous recorded vote); Resolution 2026-12 (UFA appointments) — approved (unanimous); Resolution 2026-13 (Citizens Budget Advisory Committee) — approved (unanimous); Resolution 2026-14 (consulting agreement with Carrie Nakamura & Associates) — approved (one abstention by Council member Newell); Resolution 2026-15 (Health in the Heights appointment) — approved (unanimous).
What’s next: staff will implement the budget transfers identified in the presentation, and the Citizens Budget Advisory Committee will begin advisory meetings consistent with the public meeting requirements council members described. No tax increases or final policy changes were adopted during the meeting.
Quoted in meeting: "Before we ask residents to pay more, we owe them a deep and transparent examination of whether we can operate more efficiently first," said public commenter Mike Hanson, urging the council and committee to exhaust internal savings. Director Scott Jurgis summarized revenue items and transfers included in the amendment.
