Hyrum: audit weakness, generator loan and utility spending
The Ledger's review of Hyrum'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 Hyrum: what the city's audit, budget and debt records show
The Ledger is reviewing Hyrum City's public financial records, starting with its fiscal 2025 audited financial statements and its fiscal 2026-27 budget. The auditor gave a clean opinion on the statements and again reported a material weakness in how the city closes its books. Every figure comes from a linked public record.
Read the explainer →Key figures
- $2.29 millionUnassigned General Fund balance, June 30, 2025 (audited)Auditing Hyrum: what the city's audit, budget and debt records show →
- $10.8 millionGeneral Fund budget, fiscal 2026-27 (approved budget column)Auditing Hyrum: what the city's audit, budget and debt records show →
- $13.4 millionUAMPS generator loan principal outstanding, June 30, 2025Hyrum's $13.86 million generator loan: what the city and UAMPS records show →
- $21.0 millionScheduled principal and interest on the generator loan through 2044 (variable rate; not a guaranteed cost)Hyrum's $13.86 million generator loan: what the city and UAMPS records show →
- $3.54 millionPlanned electric fund spending above revenue, 2026-27 budget (includes construction and debt principal)Hyrum's 2026-27 budget plans more utility spending than revenue in four funds →
- $4.87 millionElectric fund new construction and special projects, 2026-27 budgetHyrum's 2026-27 budget plans more utility spending than revenue in four funds →
- 3 yearsConsecutive audits (fiscal 2023-2025) with the account reconciliation material weaknessHyrum's auditor reports the same bookkeeping weakness for a third year →
- 5%Weight given to price in the wastewater engineering request for proposalsCity memo: Hyrum's wastewater plant capacity cut, state sets report deadline →
Debt and bonds
Hyrum's $13.86 million generator loan: what the city and UAMPS records show
Hyrum City borrowed $13.86 million through Utah Associated Municipal Power Systems in 2024 to build a local power generator, to be repaid from electric sales through 2044. The city's audit and UAMPS's own audit report the same principal, while describing the interest rates and the instrument differently.
Budgets, reserves and taxes
Hyrum's 2026-27 budget plans more utility spending than revenue in four funds
Hyrum's approved 2026-27 budget plans $3.54 million more spending than revenue in the electric fund, driven by $4.87 million in construction and special projects. Irrigation, storm water and culinary water also plan to spend more than they take in. The General Fund relies on a $1.62 million line for unappropriated fund balance.
Contracts and spending
City memo: Hyrum's wastewater plant capacity cut, state sets report deadline
A May 2026 staff memo says a discrepancy in design criteria reduced the permitted capacity of Hyrum's water reclamation facility, which also serves Millville, and that the Division of Water Quality required an updated engineering report by the end of July 2026. The city sought proposals for the report and a master plan.
Audits and compliance
Hyrum's auditor reports the same bookkeeping weakness for a third year
Hyrum City's fiscal 2025 audit again found that key accounts were not reconciled to supporting records at year-end, a material weakness the auditor also reported for fiscal 2023 and 2024. The city hired an accountant after the fiscal year ended, the audit says, and the financial statements received a clean opinion.