Helper
Local news, council decisions, projects and city spending, with links to the agendas, minutes and reporting behind each story.
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Follow the money and what happened next
Trace the decisions and financial records linked to Helper's projects. A budget, bond ceiling, contract authorization and actual payment describe different things.
Open questions in our reporting
- Helper's fiscal 2025 audit reports three funds over budget
The fiscal 2026 audit has not been published.
- Helper's fiscal 2025 general fund budget included a $330,000 transfer that was never made
The audited budget comparison does not name the fund the $330,000 transfer was to come from.
- Helper retired a 2015 water loan and drew $2.4 million on a new one running to 2064
The audit does not name the 2025 water loan's lender or its full authorized amount. A Drinking Water Board record from September 2024 authorizes a $2,412,000 loan at 0%, but the audit lists 1.50%, and the Ledger has not matched the two or seen the executed note.
Helper: audit, budget transfer and water loan →
Helper's fiscal 2025 audit reports three funds over budget
Helper's fiscal 2025 audit reports that the Municipal Building Authority fund spent $459,331 on a public works building project with no adopted appropriation, and that the sewer and garbage funds also exceeded their budgets.
Helper's fiscal 2025 general fund budget included a $330,000 transfer that was never made
Helper's fiscal 2025 general fund budget included a $330,000 transfer in. The audit shows no transfer was made, and the fund's balance fell by $151,634. The year before, the electric fund sent $350,000 to cover a general fund shortfall.
Helper retired a 2015 water loan and drew $2.4 million on a new one running to 2064
Helper's fiscal 2025 audit reports that the city paid off a $1,794,000 water revenue loan and had drawn $2,412,000 on a new 1.5% water loan that matures in 2064. The water system also spent $1.16 million in federal pandemic recovery money.
No recent news stories about Helper. Helper: audit, budget transfer and water loan has our public-records reporting on the city.