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Salt Lake City budget hearings draw sharp criticism over police funding and cuts to Hive Pass
Summary
During FY26–27 budget hearings, dozens of public commenters urged the council to reconsider growing police spending (including 13 new FTEs) and to restore funding for the Hive Pass transit subsidy; speakers also raised privacy concerns about a police drone pilot and urged greater budget transparency.
Salt Lake City council members heard sustained public opposition Wednesday to increases in police funding and to the proposed termination of the Hive Pass transit subsidy during public hearings on the mayor’s FY26–27 budget ordinances.
Austin Kimmel, a council policy analyst, told the council that Budget Amendment No. 5 proposes roughly $104.3 million in revenue changes and $112.2 million in expenditures and would add 13 FTEs to the police department. Public commenters framed that increase as out of step with other priorities.
“Why are we not investing more into social workers or other options that are clearly the better option?” said Chris Butler, a resident who urged the council to curb police spending and redirect resources to mental-health services, homelessness prevention and transit. Butler also asked council to clarify what happens to footage collected by a pilot police drone program, warning of potential abuse.
Shannon Wolf, who said she uses the Hive Pass, told the council she would stop using transit if the pass is discontinued and strongly opposed boosting police funding while many residents lack housing and healthcare. “Police do not solve any of these issues,” Wolf said, urging the council to invest “in the community rather than this police surveillance state.”
Multiple commenters raised transparency concerns. Kylie Hansen said the police budget rose from about $134 million to $142 million year-over-year and alleged a cumulative near-70% increase since the current mayor took office; she called for clearer public accounting of how those funds are spent.
Transit advocates also argued the Hive Pass was underadvertised before its proposed elimination. Michael Kroll, a regular transit rider, said the pass made regional travel affordable and that cuts remove an accessible option for people without employer-subsidized fares.
Council action during the meeting included a motion to adopt a narrowly described budget item (A2) related to police expenses and revenues and to defer action on remaining amendments; the council approved that motion unanimously. The council then closed the broader package of FY27 budget ordinances (items G6–G22) and referred them to a future date for action.
The council did not offer specific new limits on the drone pilot or a timeline for restoring Hive Pass funding during the hearing; council staff directed participants to follow up with staff and with published materials on the council’s budget website for detailed department analyses and supporting documents. The council plans further budget votes later in the process, when final adoption will occur.
