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Provo City Council passes $363.2 million budget

By Genelle Pugmire - | Aug 9, 2022

Harrison Epstein, Daily Herald file photo

The new Provo City Hall is shown Thursday, June 30, 2022.

The Provo City Council approved its fiscal year 2022-2023 budget Tuesday following last week’s truth in taxation hearing.

The vote was unanimous by the council with five members present and two excused.

The final budget, which includes the $147,000 generated by the 2.9% city property tax increase, is $363,101,721. That is an approximately $81 million increase over last year’s budget.

The revenue from the property tax increase will most likely be allocated to some form of public safety use, but that will not be known until a later time, according to Karen Tapahe, community outreach and public information officer for the council.

The small tax increase will be on the general operations portion of the city property tax, and will be placed in the general fund.

The budget allows for full-time employees to receive a 5% payroll increase to help with the pains of inflation, according to Mayor Michelle Kaufusi.

Kaufusi said that when it comes to the budget, the employees come first. The 5% is a “little boost” and should help the city find and keep good, professional employees.

Three of the biggest areas for the budget are; the airport, the wastewater treatment plant and start of the water treatment plant.

Some significant fee increases in the tentative budget includes a 2% utility rate increase due to inflation and operating costs, 9% wastewater increase and 5% water fee increase.

The airport, through the police budget requests, will have two new officers — a sergeant and an officer — dedicated to the airport. Provo needs four more full-time employees at the airport, including a director and wildlife biologist, due to Federal Aviation Administration requirements.

According to Chief Administrative Officer Wayne Parker, the mayor’s goals for the city are manifested in the budget.

Among them are the mayor’s four pillars for the city — to be safe and sound, economically vibrant, forward looking and welcome.

Kaufusi’s key priorities for fiscal year 2023 include:

  • Operationalize the City Hall/Public Safety Facility, which was completed with the grand opening on July 2.
  • Wastewater treatment plant.
  • Open a west side grocery store.
  • Complete planning for redevelopment at the Provo Towne Center mall.
  • Complete the general plan and related planning efforts.

Councilman Dave Shipley said he was happy with the passing of the budget, but said he will be “hyperfocused on trying to reduce debt obligations” for the next fiscal year.

For a complete look at the budget and where funds are allocated, people can visit the city website at http://provo.org/finance/reports/budget.

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