Orangeville council reviews amended FY2025–26 budget, moves pickleball project into separate capital fund

At a June 11 budget hearing, city staff presented an amended FY2025–26 budget and outlined structural changes to the tentative 2026 budget designed to keep restricted funds and large capital items separate from the general fund.

Gary, a city staff member who led the presentation, told the council that staff reconciled actual spending through April and projected to the end of June to prepare the required year‑end amendment. "So what we're doing here is basically what I've done is I've gone through each of the departments and said, okay," he said, explaining the approach to match the amended budget to actual expenditures and projected needs. He added that tax revenues are tracking below earlier estimates and that a previously budgeted transfer of $54,100 now appears likely to be substantially smaller than planned.

The presentation included a proposal to isolate large capital items and restricted revenues. "We took the pickleball courts out into its own fund," Gary said, arguing the move will prevent the multi‑hundred‑thousand‑dollar project from distorting the general fund balance and will allow donations and expenses for the courts to be tracked separately. He also described moving class C growth road funds into a dedicated fund so that restricted road revenues and expenses are clearer to council and the public.

Gary described other housekeeping changes to cash management, including placing certain reserves in separate savings accounts so reported on‑paper balances better reflect funds that are actually available for spending. He emphasized that anticipated grants are not included in the tentative budget; if the city receives grant awards staff will bring an amendment to add the grant revenue and matching expenses.

Council member Amanda, citing data from the county, said the Emery County auditor reported an estimated property tax revenue of $58,166 for Orangeville and that the city’s certified tax rate to collect that amount is 0.000866. Council members noted county figures can lag by a year, which can make year‑to‑year comparisons confusing.

There were no members of the public present for comment. Council member Carrie moved to close the public hearing and open the regular council meeting; the motion was seconded and approved on a voice vote with no recorded opposition.

Next steps: staff will finalize the amended FY2025–26 ordinance for formal adoption as required by state law and will bring any grant revenues to the council as amendments when and if those awards are received.