Public Lands seeks modest FY27 growth; proposes park ranger cuts and $200,000 for wildfire mitigation

Salt Lake City Public Lands Director Kim Shelley told the council during a May 21 work session that the department's budget (including the Gulf enterprise fund) would grow about 8.4% to nearly $65.1 million in FY27, largely because Gulf CIP spending is planned at $17.4 million. "Finally, we're requesting $200,000 for wildland urban interface fire mitigation," Shelley said, describing that funding as a citywide effort (not limited to foothills) to create fuel breaks and coordinate with Salt Lake City Fire.

Shelley outlined reductions and tradeoffs in the department's proposal: excluding Gulf, Public Lands would be about $34 million (a 1.8% increase), but the department proposes administrative, operational and contract cuts that together amount to approximately a 4% reduction from FY26. Staff said proposed cuts include removing Pioneer Park holiday lighting ($72,000), reducing contractor spending for trails and natural lands, trimming urban forestry pruning (an estimated 800–1,000 fewer trees pruned annually) and a 34% reduction in park security patrol hours. The department also proposed reducing the park ranger program from 17 to 14 FTEs, saving roughly $280,000; Shelley warned that the reduction would mean "about a 22% reduction in operational capacity" and that services such as small irrigation or restroom repairs could see minor delays.

Directors and staff told council members the proposed property tax increment would be used for three prioritized items if adopted: seasonal staff salaries for new properties (~$3.1 million), operations for new properties (~$397,000), and the $200,000 WUI mitigation request. Council members pressed staff on the likely operational impacts (including tree maintenance and public safety) and on whether planned reductions would affect timelines for bond‑funded projects; staff said GEO bond timelines were not expected to change.