Auditing Farmington
The Ledger's review of Farmington's budgets, audits, debt and redevelopment money. Every story in the series, sorted by subject, with the figures the records show and links to the official documents.
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Auditing Farmington: what the city's own records show about its money
A records-only look at Farmington's audited report for fiscal 2025 and its fiscal 2027 budget: the audit opinion and findings, reserves, debt, the fire station financing and the redevelopment agencies.
Read the explainer →Key figures
- $19.2 millionFarmington's fiscal 2027 General Fund budget, per the worksheet filed with the stateAuditing Farmington: what the city's own records show about its money →
- $6.2 millionGeneral Fund unassigned balance at June 30, 2025Auditing Farmington: what the city's own records show about its money →
- $76,623Capital Equipment fund spending above its final fiscal 2025 budgetFarmington's fiscal 2025 audit reports an overspent equipment fund and a General Fund balance over the state cap →
- $16,156General Fund unrestricted balance above the state's 35% limit, fiscal 2025Farmington's fiscal 2025 audit reports an overspent equipment fund and a General Fund balance over the state cap →
- $10.5 millionProceeds of the Dec. 17, 2025 sale of about 15 acres for the west-side fire stationFarmington lined up $6.05 million in bonds and a $10.5 million land sale for its west-side fire station →
- $6.05 millionSales and franchise tax revenue bonds closed Nov. 11, 2025, for the fire stationFarmington lined up $6.05 million in bonds and a $10.5 million land sale for its west-side fire station →
- $285,108New property tax revenue from the 4.99% increase adopted Aug. 18, 2026Farmington adopted a 4.99% property tax increase for firefighters after an earlier posted proposal of 5.84% →
- $1.47 millionStation Park redevelopment transfer toward North Cottonwood Commons, fiscal 2025Farmington's Station Park redevelopment money went to Clarke Lane work and a new park in fiscal 2025 →
- $1.54 millionGeneral Fund transfer to the recreation fund, fiscal 2025Farmington's General Fund put $1.54 million into recreation in fiscal 2025 and budgets $1.8 million for fiscal 2027 →
Debt and bonds
Farmington lined up $6.05 million in bonds and a $10.5 million land sale for its west-side fire station
After fiscal 2025 ended, Farmington issued sales and franchise tax revenue bonds and sold about 15 acres along Highway 89, saying all of the proceeds would go to a new fire station on the city's west side. Records reviewed don't yet show the station's full cost.
Redevelopment money
Farmington's Station Park redevelopment money went to Clarke Lane work and a new park in fiscal 2025
Farmington's two redevelopment agencies received $649,795 in tax increment in fiscal 2025 and spent $2,292,629, drawing down the Station Park agency's balance. Most of it went to North Cottonwood Commons and to work on Clarke Lane, and the US 89 area has ended.
Budgets, reserves and taxes
Farmington's General Fund put $1.54 million into recreation in fiscal 2025 and budgets $1.8 million for fiscal 2027
Farmington's recreation fund brought in about $1.1 million from users in fiscal 2025 against $2.7 million in operating expenses. A transfer from the General Fund covered most of the difference, and the city budgets a larger transfer for fiscal 2027.
Farmington adopted a 4.99% property tax increase for firefighters after an earlier posted proposal of 5.84%
On Aug. 18, 2026, the City Council voted 5-0 to adopt a tax rate of 0.001581 and a fiscal 2027 budget with $285,108 in new property tax revenue for three firefighters. An earlier proposal posted by the city described a $300,000 increase and said the firefighters were hired in January 2026.
Contracts and spending
No story in the series on this yet.
Audits and compliance
Farmington's fiscal 2025 audit reports an overspent equipment fund and a General Fund balance over the state cap
The city's auditor reported two instances of noncompliance with state law for fiscal 2025: a capital equipment fund that spent $76,623 more than budgeted, and an unrestricted General Fund balance $16,156 over the 35% limit. Both rules were also the subject of findings in fiscal 2024.