Ogden council adopts tentative 2024-25 budget, 2025-29 capital plan, water rate and fire fee changes, and keeps utility fund transfers
June 18, 2024, 6:10 p.m. · Council Chambers, Municipal Building, 2549 Washington Blvd., Ogden
The council voted 7-0 to adopt the tentative fiscal 2024-25 budget, the $262.8 million 2025-29 capital improvement plan, a 4% annual water rate increase for five years and a $15 fire system inspection fee, and amended and adopted a $5.8 million year-end budget amendment. A hearing on $6.7 million in utility fund transfers to the general fund drew several opponents, and residents raised crossing guard safety and a Taylor Avenue traffic petition.
From the approved minutes. Updated October 14, 2026.
Decisions at a glance
Agenda, item by item
Item W1 · Taxes and fees
Certified tax rate and budget discussion (work session)
Discussed
Management Services Director Lisa Stout said the mayor proposes a 0.94% property tax increase, about $185,000, to cover mental health services for first responders. The county certified rate is 0.002127 and average home value is $421,000. The council was comfortable advertising the mayor's proposal; Vice Chair Marcia White said she would also consider 1%. A Truth in Taxation hearing is set for August 6.
- Fee$185,000
Item 1 · Budget
Ordinance 2024-20: fiscal 2023-24 budget amendment of $5,819,050
Approved · 7-0
The year-end amendment recognizes added revenue and spending in the general, tourism, capital, airport, golf, Business Depot Ogden, fleet and grant funds, including RAMP awards, contingency use and salary adjustments. Speakers asked whether the Piccadilly Building sale was at fair market value, why the City Attorney's Office needed part-time staff, and about a $24,000 line they took to be for an animal shelter, and one suggested traffic cameras and higher pay for crossing guards. Chair Ken Richey said the animal item is the city's payment to Weber County for animal services, the Piccadilly sale followed a late-2023 appraisal per Mayor Benjamin Nadolski, and prosecutor staffing rose with caseload. Vice Chair White's amendment changed the source of general fund transfers of $195,000 (police), $300,000 (fire) and $330,000 (public services) to fund balance and a $275,000 medical fund transfer from wages to retained earnings.
- Budget$5.82 million
Item 2 · Taxes and fees
Public hearing on enterprise fund transfers to the general fund
Discussed
The fiscal 2024-25 budget moves $3,224,250 from water, $1,784,575 from sanitary sewer, $768,000 from storm sewer and $912,000 from refuse funds to the general fund in lieu of franchise and property taxes. Six speakers opposed or questioned the transfers, saying they are not transparent, overcharge utility customers and should instead fund the canyon waterline. One speaker said undeveloped land lacks water lines. Chair Richey, Council Members Angela Choberka, Richard Hyer and Dave Graf and Mayor Nadolski said the transfers keep property taxes lower and make tax-exempt organizations share the cost of services. Council Member Shaun Myers said the transfer shifts some cost to non-profits that use utilities but pay no property tax. No separate vote was taken; the transfers are part of the budget adopted below.
- Budget$6.69 million
Item 3 · Budget
Ordinance 2024-17: 2025-2029 capital improvement plan
Approved · 7-0
The rolling plan totals $262,795,234. Council Member Hyer noted a planned traffic signal at North Street and Monroe Boulevard conflicts with a roundabout in the Mount Lewis Community Plan. Public Services Director Justin Anderson said there was not enough space for a roundabout without taking private property or cemetery land, and the project is not planned for this year, leaving time to amend the plan. No one spoke at the hearing.
- Budget$262.8 million
Item 4 · Taxes and fees
Ordinance 2024-15: private fire protection system inspection fee
Approved · 7-0
The council raised the cap on third-party inspections of private fire protection systems from $12 to $15 and allowed annual increases tied to the consumer price index. The fees are paid to the inspectors through a third-party system, not collected by the city.
Item 5 · Taxes and fees
Ordinance 2024-16: water rates and utility discounts
Approved · 7-0
The council approved water rate increases of 4% a year for five years, on top of the annual inflation adjustment, to pay the canyon waterline debt, and expanded the utility discount to people who are blind, disabled veterans and deployed service members at a flat $15.50 a month. Treasurer Brandee Johnson said about 400 accounts get the current discount and about 1,000 are expected under the expansion. A resident asked why the city uses a blended inflation index; Stout said a construction index and western-region CPI are used and others could be considered. An Ogden Canyon property owner asked whether canyon homes could connect to the 36-inch line; Anderson said no service laterals will connect to it and the city no longer issues will-serve letters for canyon homes.
Item 6 · Budget
Ordinance 2024-14: tentative fiscal 2024-25 budget
Approved · 7-0
The council adopted the tentative budget of $90,106,375 after continuing the hearing from June 4. A final budget is due August 6 after the Truth in Taxation hearing.
- Budget$90.1 million
What residents said
Utility fund transfersWater rate increasesCrossing guard safetyTaylor Avenue traffic near Weber StateAnimal services cost
A resident who circulated a petition with 61 signatures asked the city to close Taylor Avenue to through traffic with a gate on the south side of the Weber State campus, citing increased traffic. Chief Administrative Officer Mara Brown said a traffic study shows lower volume than residents report and she would follow up. Council members Graf and Bart Blair supported looking at the issue; Blair said residents were promised speed controls that have not been delivered. Another resident asked for help for property owners near 25th Street and Monroe Boulevard.