Magna redevelopment fund records $95,055 Main Street landscaping charge against a $50,000 budget

Magna's redevelopment agency fund recorded $98,100.02 in spending in July and August 2026, 196.20% of its $50,000 expenditure budget for the full fiscal year, according to the financial report in the city council's Oct. 13 packet. ^[1]

The spending was charged to an account called "CRA Distribution," which carries no budget in fiscal 2027. The report shows that line at 0.00 in the budget column and $98,100.02 in year-to-date actual spending. ^[1]

What the money paid for

The agency's general ledger for July 1 through Aug. 31, 2026 lists seven invoices on that account. The largest, dated July 27, 2026, is $95,055 to Roth Landscape Services for Main Street landscape enhancement demolition and planting between 8400 West and 9200 West. ^[1]

The rest are four Roth mowing and landscape invoices totaling $1,474.52 and two Smith Hartvigsen invoices for general agency legal work totaling $1,570.50. The check register shows the $95,055 invoice paid July 30. ^[1]

The register also lists earlier Roth invoices coded to the same account with June 2026 ledger dates and July payment dates, including $14,800 for Main Street tree removal and demolition between 8400 West and 9200 West. Those fall in fiscal 2026. ^[1]

The budget

The fiscal 2027 schedule for Fund 64, attached to the budget ordinance in the council's June 9 packet, budgets $50,000 in interest revenue and $50,000 in spending: $40,000 for legal and professional services and $10,000 for park maintenance. It has no CRA Distribution line. ^[2]

The amended fiscal 2026 budget in the same packet put $3,584,794 on the CRA Distribution/Projects line, described as contributions available for project use. The August report shows $659,178.32 actually spent on that line in fiscal 2026. ^[2][1]

The fund took in $3,649,454 in tax revenue in fiscal 2026 and ended August with a fund balance of $2,918,334.76, including $1,561,435.83 for Magna Main, $726,931 for housing and $246,436 for Arbor Park. These are unaudited management figures. ^[1]

What the agendas show

The redevelopment agency's notices on the Utah Public Notice Website list meetings on May 12 and June 9, 2026; neither agenda lists a landscaping contract or budget item. The council agendas for Aug. 11, Sept. 22 and Oct. 13 list no redevelopment budget amendment, and the Sept. 8 council minutes record none. ^{[3][4][6][5][7]}

The Ledger has not obtained a contract, purchase order or amendment covering the Main Street work, and has sent no records request or questions.