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City officials get help with budget process May 27, 2018, 12:21 pmOn March 13, Fred Philpot of Lewis Young Robertson and Burningham outlined the plan for putting together the model. Initially, his team would be meeting with city staff to gather information for the model. The purpose of the model is to establish a proactive approach to sustainability as it related to the General Fund, he said. His team will evaluate gaps in funding, intended level of service, and potential cost savings. The study will be similar to recent utility rate and transportation fee studies commissioned by city officials. During this process they will evaluate the city's expenditures, develop revenue projections and establish a financing plan for the city, Philpot said. At the council meeting, Philpot gave a presentation on historic trends in the city including comparing Highland's low property tax rate compared to other municipalities. He also provided an overview on the city's revenue stream, along with expenditures, including salaries, benefits, and public safety expenses. Council Member Brian Braithwaite expressed concern that the city's other fees, including the road fee, had not been taken into consideration in the report and that their absence might skew the data. Philpot agreed to include those fees in the overall report. Some of the challenges Highland faces with its revenue stream are the instability of economic development and increased sales tax, Philpot said. Highland also faces "some unique challenges" in terms of developable land, he added. The consultants will move forward to address the challenges facing economic development, consider alternatives, review revenues and expenses, prioritize expenditures, re-evaluate the model and present alternative scenarios before issuing a final report to the city council. The community news source for Eagle Mountain Utah, Saratoga Springs Utah, Lehi Utah, American Fork Utah, Highland Utah, Alpine Utah, and The Cedar Valley, including Cedar Fort Utah and Fairfield Utah. Copyright 2024 The Crossroads Journal LLC. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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