Sandy City Council Budget Priorities Workshop - January 27, 2026

The Sandy City Council held a budget priorities workshop on January 27, 2026, to review and update the council's budget priorities for the upcoming FY2027 budget. The workshop included a SWOT analysis, prioritization exercise, and discussion on key areas of focus. The council also received a legislative update and heard public comment on a recent traffic safety improvement.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Josh Karr, representing his community near Alta High School, thanked the Mayor, Council, and Administration for their responsiveness in installing flashing stop signs at the intersection of 110 S 10 E. He reported that a petition for safety reform had gained over 1,100 signatures (700 initially, then 400 more) and expressed appreciation for the partnership between the community and the city. He noted the intersection is now safer.

Discussion Items

• Budget Priorities Workshop: The council, facilitated by Matt Dixon (City Manager of South Ogden), reviewed the five budget priorities established in the previous year: Economic Development, Employee Satisfaction, Community Safety, Quality of Life, and Fiscal Health. The council conducted a SWOT analysis, identifying strengths (safe community, stakeholder relationships, outdoor recreation, strong governance), weaknesses (communication and trust issues, shared vision, aging staff), threats (state mandates, revenue loss, natural disasters, competition), and opportunities (succession planning, building trust, effective teamwork, promoting the city).
• Administration Budget Preview: Shane Pace, CAO, presented the administration's priorities, noting that FY2027 will be a "hard budget." Public safety is the top priority, followed by employee compensation to retain experienced staff (over 58 employees have reached 30 years of service). He highlighted the need to complete Phase III of Public Works capital projects, prepare for the opening of the new recreation center, and noted that all departments have been asked to prepare budgets with 2% to 4% cuts. No tax increase is planned.
• Prioritization and Weighting: After discussion, the council agreed on five broad priorities for the upcoming budget cycle: Economic Development, Community Safety, Quality of Life, Infrastructure, and Fiscal Health. Employee satisfaction was folded into Fiscal Health. The council conducted a dot-voting exercise to assign weights: Community Safety (33%), Fiscal Health (20%), and Economic Development, Quality of Life, and Infrastructure each at approximately 16%. Staff will draft narrative descriptions for each priority and bring them back for formal adoption.
• Legislative Report: Ryan Mecham, Senior Policy Advisor, provided an update on state legislative issues. Key topics included increasing housing stock (with emphasis on "starter lots" and concern over state preemption of land use), property tax reform (multiple bills capping increases or altering notification timelines), and urban-wildland interface bills regarding vegetation removal for fire safety. The city is monitoring these bills.

Key Outcomes

• The council updated its budget priorities for FY2027, adding Infrastructure as a new priority and folding Employee Satisfaction into Fiscal Health.
• The council assigned preliminary weights to the five priorities: Community Safety (33%), Fiscal Health (20%), and the remaining three at about 16% each.
• Staff will compile a draft of the updated priorities with narrative descriptions for the council's formal adoption at a future meeting.
• The council heard public testimony thanking the city for swift action on traffic safety at the Alta High School intersection.
• The meeting adjourned at 8:26 PM.