Contact: Whitney Gonzalez Fernandez
801-535-7600 – CouncilMedia@slcgov.com
Salt Lake City Council Adopts ‘Holistic’ Budget Centered on City Infrastructure and Maintenance, Community Care
The nearly $2 billion budget includes funding to enhance diversified response, capital improvement and quality of life.
SALT LAKE CITY – The Salt Lake City Council voted Tuesday to adopt a nearly $2 billion annual budget for Fiscal Year 2024-2025 (FY25), which invests in our City’s present needs and assets and supports sustainable long-term growth. The City’s “general fund,” or operating budget, makes up nearly a quarter of the annual budget and funds City operations and services to the public. The $480 million operating budget includes funding for initiatives to enhance quality of life, increase housing supply, maintain public spaces, provide homeless services and invest in infrastructure. Before adoption, Council Members added funding to the budget to further enhance the priorities of needs along the Jordan River, public restroom facilities, parks maintenance, noise enforcement, and traffic safety on neighborhood streets.
“We adopted a balanced budget amid unprecedented growth pressures, which only illuminated our enormous responsibility as stewards of public funds. In that vein, we aimed to care for our City and residents as we grow holistically,” said Council Chair Victoria Petro. “We are also eager to embark on a zero-based budgeting effort during the coming year, justifying every taxpayer expense from scratch every year.”
The FY25 budget runs from July 1, 2024, to June 30, 2025, and includes the below highlights:
- A proposed $58.1 million to the City’s Capital Improvement Program (CIP), including $15 million for deferred maintenance projects, and $2 million for implementing the City’s “Livable Streets” initiative, which installs safety measures on neighborhood streets.
- Advancement of the City’s goals towards embedding racial equity in policing by adding four ongoing trainings and a culturally responsive therapy program for families involved in negative police interactions.
- Continued expansion of alternative community safety response models, including the Fire Department’s Medical Response Team, the Public Services Department’s Rapid Intervention Team, and a Community Outreach Manager in the City’s Justice Court.
- A $100,000 increase to the annual Arts, Culture, and Events (ACE) Fund and funding for public art enhancements, including Japantown Art, the reinstallation of the 100 historic bronze statues to restore “The Gulls of Salt Lake City” installation downtown.
- A market-based salary increase for the Mayor and City Council Members.
- A 5% cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for all City employees to retain a qualified workforce and maintain outstanding service to constituents, including a negotiated salary increases for the public safety and fire given the significant service they provide in the Capital city.
- Added resources to maintain our City parks and public lands, especially as they experience increased pressure from our unsheltered community members.
For more information about the FY25 budget, please visit tinyurl.com/SLCFY25.
###
About Salt Lake City:
Salt Lake City Corporation is the municipal government for Utah’s capital city. The Mayor is the chief executive and the City Council is the legislative body. Committed to providing outstanding public services, fostering community engagement, and promoting innovation, Salt Lake City Corporation is dedicated to creating a city that thrives and reflects the values of its diverse residents. For more information, visit slc.gov.
About The Salt Lake City Council:
The Salt Lake City Council is the seven-member legislative branch of Utah’s capital city. The Council sets Salt Lake City’s overall policy direction and allocates resources via the adoption of annual budgets and ordinances. The Council also serves as the Board of Directors for Salt Lake City’s Redevelopment Agency, the Local Building Authority, and the Board of Canvassers. For more information, visit slccouncil.com.