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SALT LAKE CITY — Streetlights that have gone dark soon will start shining again in Utah's capital city.
West Jordan found a way to purchase two new fire engines.
And city employees in Provo are once again eligible for pay raises.
All in all, it was a pretty good budget season for municipalities along the Wasatch Front.
"This budget was a lot easier than last year," Salt Lake City Councilman Stan Penfold said after the city's 2011-12 fiscal year budget was approved earlier this month.
This budget was a lot easier than last year.
–- Stan Penfold, Salt Lake City Councilman
The sentiment was similar in Provo, where Mayor John Curtis expressed cautious optimism for the city's financial future by including increases in projected revenue for the fiscal year that begins Friday.
In Layton, city manager Alex Jensen declared that "the economic recession is over" and predicted that tax revenues in the city are on their way up.
Revenues funneling into most cities' coffers still fall well shy of pre-2008 levels, but cities are beginning to see signs that the local economy is recovering from the Great Recession.
And in many municipalities, that made budgeting this year a much less painful process then in years past.
"For the first time (since taking office in 2008), we have a budget that hasn't required us to do major cuts," Salt Lake City Mayor Ralph Becker said earlier this month. "This year, we've been able to return some city services."
Becker credits the city's shift to "more sustainable" budgeting in recent years as a big reason for the lack of layoffs, property-tax increases and cuts to city programs in the 2011-12 budget.
Becker also found a creative way to turn back on city streetlights that had gone dark during lean budget years. The city has created an enterprise fund that calls on property owners to chip in between $3 and $5 a month to keep streetlights shining.
For the first time (since taking office in 2008), we have a budget that hasn't required us to do major cuts.
–- Ralph Becker, Salt Lake City Mayor
The city previously had been letting lights that burned out in certain areas stay dark, a practice that saved about $500,000 last budget year.
West Valley City
Revenues in West Valley City actually are projected to drop slightly in the 2011-12. As a result, the City Council will vote Aug. 9 on a proposed property tax increase of 18.2 percent — about $70 per year on a home valued at $185,000. Businesses would pay nearly $130 more for the year.
City manager Wayne Pyle will host three budget open houses on the proposed tax increase, with the first of those scheduled for 5-7 p.m. Wednesday in the multipurpose room of West Valley City Hall, 3600 S. Constitution Blvd.
Other open houses will run 5-7 p.m. July 13 and Aug. 3.
Provo
Like Salt Lake City, Provo is touting its recent budgeting as being more sustainable by not relying on funds that may not be available from one year to the next.
As a result, the city was able to invest more money in capital projects, vehicle replacement and employees than it has in recent years.
All city employees are eligible for a 2.5 percent pay increase, and the city is offering a new 2 percent 401(k) matching program. Employee wages had been frozen in the city for the previous two fiscal years.
West Jordan
Though city officials in West Jordan are projecting a 3 percent increase in sales-tax revenue, balancing the city budget for 2011-12 required several cutbacks.
Four vacant positions have been eliminated, and one full-time building inspector has been laid off. Also, no pay increases were budgeted for city employees.
The city was able to purchase two new fire trucks, though it will be making lease payments of about $215,000 on them for the next seven years.
Though it's a new expense, city officials say the new equipment will save money in operation and maintenance costs and also improve public safety in the city.
It's important to retain and support our city employees. These individuals are a great asset to our city and allow us to efficiently provide services to our (residents).
–- Caitlin Gochnour, City Council Chairwoman
Ogden
City Council Chairwoman Caitlin Gochnour credits "fiscal prudence and economic growth" for Ogden's ability to sustain most city services at existing levels this budget season.
For the second consecutive year, Ogden used a "benchmarking" system to make sure salaries for city employees were on par with those in comparable cities. Following the benchmarking process, salaries were assigned to each position in an effort to keep skilled employees at the city.
"It's important to retain and support our city employees," Gochnour said. "These individuals are a great asset to our city and allow us to efficiently provide services to our (residents)."
Though no raises were awarded, the city paid the majority of the cost increases for health benefits.
Ogden leaders also committed more funding to public safety, specifically to upgrade and better maintain traffic signals.
Layton
Officials in Davis County's most-populous city also expect to see tax revenues increase in the 2011-12 fiscal year.
Layton was able to maintain service levels for day-to-day operations by cutting back on capital improvement projects.
The recently approved budget also saw the city add two full-time police dispatchers.
Email:jpage@ksl.com
