Lehi has tentatively approved a $78 million budget for the upcoming fiscal year.

The budget includes $3.5 million to build a north Lehi fire station, $97,000 for a fire department training tower and $100,000 for a police station office expansion.

The city has also proposed hiring more personnel, including three full-time police officers, a full-time sports field specialist, a finance director, a billing clerk, animal control officers, a secretary and a full-time power director.

Residents expressed in a recent survey that public safety was a concern "and we're going to address that," said Ron Foggin, assistant city administrator.

The budget will be up for final approval sometime in June.

"We have a really aggressive five-year capital improvement budget," Foggin said. "It provides a road map for where the departments plan on heading so we're not surprised when there is a new fire truck needed. You can see it coming."

The city's budget is down $26 million from last year. The Economic Development Agency, which is used to fund the infrastructure needed for IM Flash Technologies growth in north Lehi, peaked in capital expenses in 2006, spending $19 million for power station upgrades, $7 million in water projects, $1 million for roads and $6.3 million for property and easements.

Also included in the proposed budget is an expense many municipalities don't have -- the city's own power company. The Lehi Power Company is an $18.5 million enterprise with other utilities, culinary water, secondary water, sewer, solid waste and drainage budgets costing $15.2 million. The fund for the city's utilities is run like a business, said Foggin.

The city's General Fund budget is $28 million and pays for personnel and operations.

"All the departments play a very crucial role in the creation of the budget," he said. "During the budget process the departments are expected to provide information at each step -- capital expenses, personnel, performance levels."

In this year's proposed budget

North Lehi fire station

Traverse Mtn. substation upgrade

City parking lots black topped

Fire department training tower

Water tank

Three new full-time police officers

Full-time animal control officer

Part-time animal control officer

Full-time code enforcement officer

Full-time sports field specialist

Lehi Power director

This story appeared in The Daily Herald on page B1.