Today, we recap some big ticket items from this week’s County Council meeting which included a conversation on the county’s 2025 budget, the latest on the Dakota Pacific discussions, and some key updates on the Ure Ranch property.
TOPIC 1: 2025 County Budget
County Manager, Shayne Scott and County Finance Officer, Matt Leavitt kicked off discussions about the 2025 county budget this week with a look at some possible scenarios the county could face next year regarding revenues and expenses.
Due to several council initiatives, specific unexpected expenses, and unfunded state mandates, Summit County is faced with a shortfall between expected revenues and department requests for 2025.
Certain expenditures that may be new next fiscal year include but are not limited to:
- Defense expenses of high-profile county attorney cases
- School Resource Officer requirements mandated by the Utah State Legislature
- Mental Health service contract changes
- Expenses around the potential acquisition of the 910 Cattle Ranch
- Landfill Cell Expansion
- Reductions to Senior Citizen programming
The Emergency Services Sales Tax (ESST) ballot initiative could fund the difference between current budget requests and estimated 2025 revenues (which is a difference of approximately $12 million).
Because the ESST must be approved by voters, however, the County won’t know if those funds will be available until after the November election.
If the ESST does not pass, County Manager Shayne Scott recommends the Council go through the Truth in Taxation process to raise property taxes in the General & Municipal funds, which have not been raised in more than 7 years.
If Council chooses to begin the Truth in Taxation process, the timeline requires a public meeting before the November election. Even if Council takes this direction, they could choose to abandon the process after the election, when the results of the ESST ballot initiative have been determined.
If the ESST is not approved by voters AND the county does not go through Truth in Taxation, the County Manager & Finance Officer anticipate a significant cut in services and loss of County personnel.
To learn more about the ESST, please visit: summitcounty.info/ESST. Stay tuned to upcoming Council meetings for more discussions related to the 2025 budget.
TOPIC 2: Dakota Pacific Discussions
Council Members Canice Harte and Chris Robinson gave an update on their discussions with Dakota Pacific regarding a public-private partnership on the Kimball Junction development property.
To review, the primary objectives of the proposed partnership include:
- Traffic improvements to SR 224 and the I-80 interchange
- Creating a destination with public amenities
- Alignment with the Kimball Junction Neighborhood Plan
These goals culminate in a mixed-use area master plan for the property owned by Dakota Pacific, as well as the Skullcandy and Richins buildings, which are owned by the County. This could include a new, expanded transit center, an expanded civic center, county-owned affordable housing, senior housing and medical facility, an ampitheater, connection to existing pedestrian trails and space for a potential gondola, which is pre-approved for the area but would likely not be an immediate part of the build out.
If you watch the presentation, keep in mind the proposal is a master plan focusing on the big picture concept, and not a site plan for specific amenities in specific areas.
The presentation culminated in an estimated civic budget that would be split between the County and High Valley Transit, as part of the larger public-private partnership. The budget, estimated at $39 million, is proposed from a combination of HTRZ monies, potential grant funding, affordable housing land purchases and additional areas.
To watch the presentation yourself, visit summitcounty.info/councilrecording. Stay tuned as more details are discussed and public hearings are scheduled.
Topic 3: Ure Ranch Updates
County Lands & Natural Resources Director Jess Kirby provided an update on next steps in the county’s purchase of the Ure Ranch in Kamas.
At this time, 57% of the property has been funded and the county is working with the Ure family on a partial closing by December 31 of this year. Council approved bringing additional GO Bond funds (approximately $5.2 million) to meet the December closing for applicable parcels of the Ure Ranch, with the possibility of recuperating those funds through additional funding down the road.
Based on public input, Council also determined to remove community housing from the use plan for part of the “Homestead” area; and supported moving forward with a preapproved advanced wetland mitigation site on one parcel, and to explore community desire for a USU Agricultural Extension educational facility on the homestead.
For more information on the Ure Ranch and public lands, visit summitcounty.org/countylands.
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