Auditing St. George
The Ledger's review of St. George'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 St. George: what the city's own records say about its money
A facts-only review of St. George's budget, audit, debt and redevelopment agencies, starting with the fiscal 2025 annual financial report and the fiscal 2027 adopted budget.
Read the explainer →Key figures
- $543.8 millionFY2027 adopted budget, all fundsAuditing St. George: what the city's own records say about its money →
- $53.1 millionGeneral fund balance, June 30, 2025Auditing St. George: what the city's own records say about its money →
- $5.8 millionDecrease in Tech Ridge CDA fund balance, FY2025A road transfer left St. George's Tech Ridge redevelopment fund $5.8 million lower in 2025 →
- $102.8 millionBonded debt, June 30, 2025St. George cut its bonded debt to $102.8 million in 2025 as one electric bond issue was downgraded →
- $121.8 millionFY2027 adopted general fund, per budget narrativeSt. George's adopted budget gives two different totals for its general fund →
- $14.1 millionFY2026 transfer to new Airport Fund (estimate)St. George moves its airport out of the general fund with a $14.1 million transfer →
Debt and bonds
St. George cut its bonded debt to $102.8 million in 2025 as one electric bond issue was downgraded
The city's fiscal 2025 report shows bonded debt fell by $7,148,000, and records an S&P downgrade of the 2016 electric revenue bonds from A to A- with a negative outlook.
Redevelopment money
A road transfer left St. George's Tech Ridge redevelopment fund $5.8 million lower in 2025
St. George's fiscal 2025 financial report says the Tech Ridge community development area fund's balance fell by $5,793,632 after a transfer for the development's east access road, financed by a loan from another city fund.
Budgets, reserves and taxes
St. George's adopted budget gives two different totals for its general fund
The fiscal 2027 budget, adopted 5-0 on June 18, states a $121,791,905 general fund in its narrative, while its general fund revenue table totals $121,736,112, a $55,793 difference.
St. George moves its airport out of the general fund with a $14.1 million transfer
The fiscal 2027 budget moves St. George's airport into its own enterprise fund, backed by an estimated $14.1 million fiscal 2026 transfer of restricted general fund balance.
Contracts and spending
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