Willard's fiscal 2025 audit reports $228,309 left on a 2019 developer impact fee advance

Willard's fiscal 2025 audit reports a $228,309 liability to developers who advanced the city impact fees six years earlier. ^[1]

"In fiscal year 2019, developers gave Willard City an advance funding of impact fees in the amount of $500,000," the audit says. The money was used for utility infrastructure. When lot owners pay their impact fees, the advance is reimbursed to the developers for those lots. ^[1]

Where the balance stands

The audit says $171,747 was used during fiscal 2025, leaving a year-end liability of $228,309. It is carried in the utility fund, which covers water and refuse service. ^[1][2]

The utility fund's cash flow statement lists a $171,747 change in the advance funding liability for the year. ^[3]

Impact fees collected

In fiscal 2025 the utility fund collected $304,946 in impact fees and $21,703 in connection fees, and the sewer fund collected $345,169 in impact fees and $14,112 in connection fees. ^[4]

The audit reports these fees as nonoperating revenue. Without them, both funds had operating losses: $220,278 in the utility fund and $202,009 in the sewer fund. ^[4]

At year-end, $143,298 of the utility fund's net position and $487,458 of the sewer fund's were restricted for impact fees. ^[2]

The auditor's state compliance report lists impact fees among the areas tested and states that Willard complied in all material respects. ^[5]