Auditing Provo
The Ledger's review of Provo's budgets, audits, debt, redevelopment money and officials' disclosures.
The full audit section: stories by subject, key figures and records →
Background
Auditing Provo: what the city's own records say about its money
A records-only look at Provo's budget, reserves, debt, audits and redevelopment agency, drawn from city budgets, audited financial reports, council minutes and Utah County tax increment reports.
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- Politics
Provo councilor says last year's internal audit work wasn't completed
At an April 28, 2026 meeting on the council's audit charters, a councilor said the prior year's internal audit work went unfinished. The council office said only two fraud-hotline tips in four years concerned the city.
- Politics
Most of Provo's redevelopment tax increment comes from school district taxes
County reports show Provo's redevelopment agency received $1.72 million in property tax increment for tax year 2025, $1.2 million of it from Provo City School District levies. The South University area reached its end year in 2025.
- Politics
Provo's utilities will send $17.2 million to the general fund this year
The fiscal 2027 budget keeps a transfer equal to 12.5% of utility revenue, which the city says makes up about 18% of general fund revenue. Power, water and some sewer rates rise this year.
- Politics
In 2021–2023, Provo moved $19.7 million of its pandemic aid into a new water plant
Provo received $33.9 million in federal pandemic relief in 2021 and 2022. By mid-2023 the council had assigned all of it, mostly to water, wastewater, a fire station, a sports park and demolition of the old city center.
- Politics
Provo's FY2025 audit: clean opinion, no state compliance findings
The city's outside auditor reported no internal control deficiencies and no state compliance exceptions for the year ended June 30, 2025. Federal single audits have listed one finding since 2016, for fiscal 2020.
- Politics
Provo's debt tables list about $278 million owed, mostly in water and sewer revenue bonds
Water and wastewater revenue bonds make up most of what Provo listed as outstanding on June 30, 2026. The city uses about 10% of its legal limit for general obligation debt.