Auditing American Fork
The Ledger's review of American Fork's budgets, audits, redevelopment money, contracts and officials' disclosures. Every story in the series, sorted by subject, with the figures the records show and links to the official documents.
Start here
Auditing American Fork: what we're examining and why
The Ledger is reading American Fork's budgets, audits, redevelopment reports and disclosures. Here is what the records show so far, and what we still want answered.
Read the explainer →Key figures
- $112.5 millionLong-term debt the city expects to owe on June 30, 2027, about double fiscal 2022American Fork's debt is set to pass $110 million, about double 2022 →
- $4.48 millionHow far Patriot Station tax increment has fallen short of its bond payments so farPatriot Station tax money hasn't covered its $30 million bond payments →
- $4.2 millionNorth Valley redevelopment fund balance at the end of fiscal 2025, after three years with no recorded spendingAmerican Fork's oldest redevelopment areas built up $4.5 million that the agency hasn't spent →
- $1,175,089General fund transfer to the fitness center in fiscal 2025, up from $419,158 in fiscal 2015American Fork's fitness center subsidy has nearly tripled since 2015, and fiber materials sit waiting on a deal →
- $5.4 millionSpent on fiber design and materials while a final partnership agreement is pendingAmerican Fork's fitness center subsidy has nearly tripled since 2015, and fiber materials sit waiting on a deal →
- 6 yearsAudits, fiscal 2016 through 2021, that reported state-law noncompliance in letters that are not publishedAmerican Fork's auditors reported state-law noncompliance six years running. The details aren't public. →
- $9,112,335SIRQ Construction's Fire Station 52 price, approved in 2022 with council member Ryan Hunter abstainingOn the record: how American Fork officials handled votes touching their ties →
- $13.66 millionGeneral fund balance at the end of fiscal 2024, 35% of revenue, the most state law allowsAuditing American Fork: what we're examining and why →
- $5.68 millionPaid to Timpanogos Special Service District, the city's largest payee in FY2026, as reported to the stateTransparent Utah: American Fork City highest-paid vendors FY2026 →
Debt and bonds
American Fork's debt is set to pass $110 million, about double 2022
A $40 million bond for a new public works complex and $30 million in redevelopment bonds push the city's long-term debt to a projected $112.5 million by mid-2027.
Redevelopment money
American Fork agency kept collecting Egg Farm tax money after its report said the cap was nearly reached
The redevelopment agency's 2026 report says the business-park area had $213,198 left under a $9.26 million cap after 2022, then shows $3.28 million collected over the next three tax years. About two-thirds came from Alpine School District taxes.
American Fork's oldest redevelopment areas built up $4.5 million that the agency hasn't spent
North Valley and East Main collected tax increment through 2025 and recorded no spending for three years. This year's budget would spend it on improvements it doesn't describe.
Patriot Station tax money hasn't covered its $30 million bond payments
Tax increment from American Fork's FrontRunner-area redevelopment zone has come in at about half the forecast, leaving a $4.5 million gap that sales tax covers.
Subsidies
American Fork's fitness center subsidy has nearly tripled since 2015, and fiber materials sit waiting on a deal
The general fund now covers about $1.2 million a year of fitness center costs, plus about $200,000 a year for broadband, while $5.4 million in fiber materials await a final partnership agreement.
Contracts and spending
No story in the series on this yet.
Audits and compliance
American Fork's auditors reported state-law noncompliance six years running. The details aren't public.
From fiscal 2016 through 2021, each audit said it found instances of noncompliance with Utah's audit guide and put them in a separate letter to management that isn't in the published reports.
Officials' disclosures and ties
Ernie John leads the irrigation company. His handling of related council votes has been uneven.
He recused himself on irrigation rates and on irrigation share agreements, but voted on a fee change touching shareholders the same night and on a water-share banking agreement after noting his tie.
On the record: how American Fork officials handled votes touching their ties
Minutes show Ryan Hunter abstained on the $9.1 million SIRQ fire station price, Clark Taylor disclosed a client and voted, and the mayor stepped back from the Chamber's Steel Days deal.
American Fork Citizen: officials' disclosures leave open questions on contracts and ties
The local paper found a city landscaping contract held by the mayor's company went 13 years without a rebid, and that two council members list ties to the firm that built the newest fire station.
Other findings
American Fork's $40 million public works complex: an essentially tied architect pick, and a builder still to choose
Staff recommended WPA Architecture for $589,900 although its average score was 0.1 point behind another firm. The contractor will be chosen next, and two council members work for a construction firm.
American Fork's impact fees haven't changed since 2017. Collections have fallen 90%.
The one-time fees on new construction were last set in 2017. A proposed update would raise the single-family maximum to about $16,700, while restricted balances fell from $38 million to $17 million in two years.