Ogden council adopts tentative 2025-26 budget and new wildfire fire-restriction levels, both 7-0

Decisions at a glance

Agenda, item by item

1. Presentation

   Youth Council annual report

   Discussed

   Communications Director Brandon Garside and Ogden City Youth Council members presented the council's fiscal 2024-25 annual report and plans for next year. Members asked about representation of the city's high schools and the applicant pool.

2. Other

   Hearings set for June 17

   Pending · 7-0

   The council voted 7-0, on separate motions by Vice Chair Hyer seconded by Council Member Choberka, to hold June 17, 2025, 6:00 p.m. public hearings on executive municipal officer compensation (required by S.B. 91), transfers from the water, sewer, storm sewer and refuse funds to the General Fund, the 2026-2030 Capital Improvement Plan (Ordinance 2025-16) and employee salary schedules (Ordinance 2025-17). Proposed utility transfers are $3,475,925 from water, $1,835,650 from sanitary sewer, $799,425 from storm sewer and $935,700 from refuse.

   • Payment$3.48 million Proposed FY2025-26 transfer from Water Fund to General Fund. Paid from Water Fund
   • Payment$1.84 million Proposed FY2025-26 transfer from Sanitary Sewer Fund to General Fund. Paid from Sanitary Sewer Fund
   • Payment$799,425 Proposed FY2025-26 transfer from Storm Sewer Fund to General Fund. Paid from Storm Sewer Fund
   • Payment$935,700 Proposed FY2025-26 transfer from Refuse Fund to General Fund. Paid from Refuse Fund

   Each: moved by Council Member Richard Hyer, seconded by Council Member Angela Choberka. Vote: 7-0 on each motion to set a hearing

3. Budget

   Tentative fiscal 2025-26 budget (Ordinance 2025-14)

   Approved · 7-0

   The council adopted the tentative budget with no changes and set the final budget hearing for June 17. Assistant Executive Director Glenn Symes said the mayor's budget proposes no tax increase and no major changes to financial principles. Laura Lewis asked whether employees could receive up to an 8 percent increase; Chair White said non-sworn staff are eligible for a 1.5 percent merit increase and sworn public safety staff for 4 percent, on top of a 2.97 percent cost-of-living raise. Joseph Bauman asked about enterprise fund transfers, a travel line increase and a 'haircut' line item; Finance Director Justin Sorensen said haircut districts are Redevelopment Agency areas whose increment repaid Central Business District debt, and Chair White said the item refers to the Solomon Center, not the Marshall N. White Center.

   Moved by Council Member Hyer, seconded by Council Member Graf. Vote: 7-0

4. City code

   Fire restrictions for hazardous areas (Ordinance 2025-18)

   Approved · 7-0 · Hazardous areas citywide, including land east of Harrison Boulevard

   The council amended Ogden Municipal Code 11-6-3 to define hazardous areas and let the fire marshal declare Yellow (elevated), Orange (critical) or Red (severe) restriction levels on fireworks, open flames and other ignition sources. Hazardous areas include brush and grass land, areas within 200 feet of waterways, trails and canyons, and land east of Harrison Boulevard. Council Member Graf said state House Bill 48 addresses fees for wildland-urban interface areas but not fireworks, and urged lobbying state lawmakers because the city cannot ban fireworks without state authority. Council Member Choberka shared his concern. Mayor Nadolski said he would keep advocating for more local control.

   Moved by Council Member Hyer, seconded by Council Member Blair. Vote: 7-0

   Follow Hazardous environmental conditions (fire restriction) ordinance in the development tracker →

5. Budget

   Work session: enterprise fund transfers, Schedule A-1 changes and capital plan

   Discussed

   In the earlier work session, Finance Director Sorensen said a study by Lewis, Robertson, Burningham found the 5 percent administrative portion of the utility transfers is justified and that ending the transfers would require a significant property tax increase. Council staff proposed raising the non-sworn merit increase from 1.5 to 2 percent; most members agreed, and they favored partnering with trails groups rather than creating a trails position. Administration's changes bring the total city budget to $266,969,850. Vice Chair Hyer asked how to restore a Monroe Boulevard traffic signal project removed from the capital plan.

   • Budget$267.0 million Total proposed FY2025-26 Ogden City budget after Schedule A-1 changes

What residents said

Employee merit increasesUtility fund transfersMount Ogden Golf Course trailFireworks and wildfire risk

Laura Lewis, Joseph Bauman and Heath Satow spoke during or after the budget hearing. Lewis opposed keeping a public trail crossing at Mount Ogden Golf Course, citing golfer liability, and Satow disagreed.