Parowan City Council adopts FY2026 amended budget in unanimous vote

Parowan City Council unanimously adopted amendments to the Fiscal Year 2026 budget at its June 25 meeting, finalizing adjustments staff said are necessary before the fiscal year closes.

City Manager Dan Jessen summarized the changes as two categories: routine housekeeping (depreciation and benefit corrections) and notable adjustments tied to grant-funded work and unplanned maintenance. He told the Council the amendments include budget changes for a newly awarded 200 South grant project that will be invoiced within the fiscal year, increased Planning and Zoning engineering costs passed through to developers, major maintenance at the 300 East, Canyon and Four Bay wells, and unusually high utility bills at the 300 East well that staff attributed to a likely Variable Frequency Drive malfunction. David Burton asked about Old Rock Church maintenance; Jessen said that project was cash-flowed by the Daughters of Utah Pioneers and was not part of the current amendment package.

The council opened a public hearing on the amended budget; no members of the public spoke. Rochell Topham moved to open the hearing, then moved to close it after no comments. The council then approved the consent agenda and voted to adopt the amended budget on a motion by David Burton, seconded by Rochell Topham. Mayor Mollie Halterman quipped, "budget hearings are reliably among the least attended public hearings in municipal government," noting the lack of public turnout.

The amendments were presented with a summary document showing original figures alongside proposed changes; staff said the adjustments are intended to avoid audit findings that can result when departments exceed budgeted amounts. The council took no additional amendment motions and adopted the package as presented.