Auditing Washington City
The Ledger's review of Washington City'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 Washington City: what the city's own records say about its money
A facts-only review of Washington City's budget, audit, reserves and debt, starting with the audited financial statements for fiscal 2025 and the adopted fiscal 2027 budget.
Read the explainer →Key figures
- $38.8 millionFY2027 adopted general fund budgetAuditing Washington City: what the city's own records say about its money →
- $15.4 millionGeneral fund balance, June 30, 2025Auditing Washington City: what the city's own records say about its money →
- $8.2 millionUnassigned general fund balance, June 30, 2025Auditing Washington City: what the city's own records say about its money →
- $1.3 millionFY2027 budgeted EMS sales tax revenueWashington City's 0.33% emergency services tax took effect Oct. 1; voters decide on more in November →
- $1.9 millionFY2025 utility administrative cost allocationsWashington City's utilities paid $1.9 million in administrative charges in 2025, and the budget plans more →
- $29.3 millionOutstanding debt, June 30, 2025, excluding pension and compensated absencesWashington City's audit narrative repeats last year's debt total →
Debt and bonds
Washington City's audit narrative repeats last year's debt total
The narrative in Washington City's fiscal 2025 audited statements says the city had $32,313,649 in outstanding debt at year end. The table it introduces shows that figure for 2024 and $29,336,402 for 2025.
Budgets, reserves and taxes
Washington City's utilities paid $1.9 million in administrative charges in 2025, and the budget plans more
Washington City's water, sewer, electric and storm drain funds were charged $1,898,225 for shared administrative costs in fiscal 2025. The fiscal 2027 budget raises the charge for three of them, and the city's public explanation of the method describes a 2015 study.
Washington City's 0.33% emergency services tax took effect Oct. 1; voters decide on more in November
After a 3-2 council vote in March, Washington City's emergency services sales tax took effect Oct. 1, according to the Utah State Tax Commission. The adopted budget counts $1.3 million from it, and Proposition 5 asks voters to add 0.67%.
Contracts and spending
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