Wasatch County School Board tables budget votes, approves equipment purchases for Deer Creek and district programs

The Wasatch County School Board opened its budget hearing at 6:30 p.m., heard a detailed presentation from Business Administrator Jason Watt on district revenues and spending, and then tabled formal consideration of both the amended FY2025–26 budget and the proposed FY2026–27 budget until the board’s June 29 meeting so the community could review materials and comment further.

Watt told the board the district is proposing an $11 million increase in the general fund in the coming year, driven largely by salary and benefit increases and additional costs tied to opening a second comprehensive high school. "We are proposing a an 11 million increase in the general fund this year," Watt said, explaining that much of the increase is to maintain teacher pay and to equip the new high school with staff and operations. He also cited a roughly $1.4 million rise in health insurance costs and nearly $600,000 estimated for additional utilities tied to the new building. Watt said the district plans to cover those costs without initiating a truth-in-taxation request to the public this year.

Board discussion also addressed public-notice procedures after a member raised concerns about the posted notice date. Watt said the hearing had been posted June 4 (more than 10 days before the hearing) and that district records and public-posting archives show compliance with the state’s 10-day notice requirement for budget hearings; nonetheless the board voted to postpone formal budget adoption to give the public more review time.

During the meeting the board approved a series of equipment purchases and program expenditures, many tied to the district’s expansion at Deer Creek High School. Highlights of approved items included:

- A plasma table for Deer Creek CTE programs (recommended from grant funds): Ark Light Dynamics, $56,172. - 26 Bernina 335 sewing machines to support clothing/textile and industrial-design-aligned coursework at Deer Creek: Dave’s Bernina, $20,774. - Apple iMac computers for labs, including a new Deer Creek broadcasting lab: Apple Inc., $29,800. - 63 high-performance Windows desktops for Deer Creek engineering and programming labs (30 programming, 30 engineering, 3 architecture): VLCM, $129,528. - Epson BrightLink laser projectors for Daniels Canyon and Old Mill elementary schools (procured via an education contract through Phase2): contract price (as presented to the board). - Acoustical wall panels for the Wasatch High School West Campus gym to address extreme loudness: Echo Acoustics, $18,300. - Playground equipment (poured-in-place surfacing included) for the Deer Creek High School child care center: Big T Recreation, $55,840.

Most procurement items were presented by district staff (CTE director Weston Broadbent, technology staff Dustin Miller, facilities staff Zach Bradgard, and preschool/child-care lead Steph Disher) who explained need, vendor selection, and funding sources. For example, Broadbent said the plasma table purchase leverages a $400,000 catalyst grant and that instructor Malcolm Rose recommended the specific model based on industry standard and long-term serviceability.

Public comment included two speakers who praised district priorities and teacher support. Teacher Cody Clyde spoke "on behalf of all the teachers in the Wasatch County School District," thanking the board for support and saying teachers will continue to work to raise student outcomes. A parent and district employee, Drew Camps Waford, also thanked trustees for prioritizing culture, staffing and opportunity in the split-high-school plan.

The board also tabled one non-public purchase: consideration of a proposed real-property acquisition (parcel identifier provided in the meeting materials) was postponed because key negotiators were unavailable; administrators said the delay would not affect the district’s schedule.

What happens next: the board set a follow-up meeting for June 29 to consider adoption of the amended FY2025–26 and proposed FY2026–27 budgets and invited additional public comment that night. Multiple procurement approvals from the June hearing were finalized by voice vote during the meeting.

Votes at a glance (formal outcomes recorded in the meeting): - Tabled: Consideration to approve amended FY2025–26 budget — motion to table passed; next consideration scheduled June 29. - Tabled: Consideration to approve proposed FY2026–27 budget — motion to table passed; next consideration scheduled June 29. - Approved: Purchase — plasma table for Deer Creek High School (Ark Light Dynamics), $56,172. - Approved: Purchase — 26 Bernina sewing machines (Dave’s Bernina), $20,774. - Approved: Purchase — iMac computers (Apple Inc.), $29,800. - Approved: Purchase — 63 Windows desktops for Deer Creek labs (VLCM), $129,528. - Approved: Purchase — Epson BrightLink projectors for two elementary schools (Phase2 contract), price as presented. - Approved: Purchase — acoustical wall panels for West Campus gym (Echo Acoustics), $18,300. - Approved: Purchase — playground equipment for Deer Creek Child Care Center (Big T Recreation), $55,840. - Tabled: Purchase of identified real property (parcel) — postponed.

Key details and clarifications: - Staffing additions for the second high school were described as about 8 to 8.5 teaching FTEs plus support staff (instructional coach, librarian, athletic director, custodial and maintenance, nurses, school resource officers). The 8–8.5 teaching FTE figure was stated during the discussion and attributed to Jason Watt. - The district said the tax increment line is a pass-through to charter schools and that revenue for that item requires later amendment. Watt said most other funds came in under budget for FY26.

Reporting note: All quotes and attributions in this article are taken from the board’s public hearing transcript. Where the transcript recorded only a voice vote without roll-call tallies, this article describes outcomes as the meeting recorded them (approved/passed/tabled) rather than reporting individual 'yes' or 'no' vote counts.

Next procedural step: budget adoption reconsideration and public comment will resume at the board’s June 29 meeting; several procurement items approved at this hearing will proceed to implementation as described by district staff.