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Ivins delays budget votes after revenues shift; shortfall now about $615,000 and truth-in-taxation talk set
Summary
Council continued action on FY25 estimated-complete and FY26 budgets after staff reported stronger-than-expected revenues reduced the shortfall to roughly $615,000. A public truth-in-taxation presentation is scheduled for June 18 to explain potential property-tax impacts and options.
The Ivins City Council on June 5 continued action on both the fiscal-year-2025 estimated-complete budget and the fiscal-year-2026 budget after staff presented updated revenue and expenditure figures that narrowed the projected FY26 shortfall to roughly $615,000.
Finance staff (Cade Visser, speaker 15) told the council that FY25 results were better than anticipated — interest earnings, higher sales-and-use tax receipts and stronger-than-expected ambulance-fee collections flipped an earlier planned $114,000 draw on savings into about $200,000 in added general-fund balance. For FY26, staff reported a $250,000 uptick in the property-tax estimate and increased sales-and-use tax and permit revenues, though the budget still shows a shortfall around $615,000.
Staff outlined options to close the gap: the proposed FY26 budget includes funding for five additional positions (a city planner, a storm-drain coordinator in public works, a new animal-control officer and two parks employees) and several capital projects (Fitness Way Park acquisition, animal shelter remodel, Highway 91 landscaping and Phase 2 infrastructure, a new citywide camera system). Staff noted camera-system costs increased by roughly $100,000 since the prior estimate, and Fitness Way Park assessment estimates rose to about $1.36 million.
The council agreed it would be prudent to wait for more near-term revenue data before finalizing the FY26 budget. Members discussed using a property-tax increase under the truth-in-taxation process as one option; staff provided an example calculation that a roughly 25% increase on Ivins’ portion of the property tax would amount to about $6 per month on a $500,000 home. To help public understanding, staff will present both percentage and dollar examples at a public session.
A public presentation on truth-in-taxation is scheduled for June 18; staff invited Ryan Sullivan, the county auditor (and former assessor), to explain how assessed values and tax bills are calculated and to answer technical questions. Council moved to continue both the FY25 and FY26 actions to the next meeting to incorporate additional data and the results of the June 18 discussion.
The council did not act to adopt the FY25 or FY26 budgets tonight; votes on any final budget or truth-in-taxation decision will occur at a future meeting after staff brings updated figures.
