Orem council adopts $160.1 million FY2025 budget and approves Provo 2000 South utility agreement
June 18, 2024, 6:00 p.m. · City Council Chambers, 56 North State Street, Orem
The Orem City Council voted unanimously to adopt the $160,124,695 budget for fiscal year 2024-2025, along with fee changes and tax rates, a final amendment to the current-year budget and a 3 percent merit increase for executive officers. Consent items included the water reclamation pretreatment code and an interlocal agreement with Provo for 2000 South utilities. The work session covered a clean-energy program, UTOPIA, North Pointe solid waste and school safety.
From the approved minutes. Updated October 14, 2026.
Decisions at a glance
| Item | Result |
|---|---|
| School safety review and victim assistance | Discussed |
| Interlocal agreement with Provo for 2000 South utilities | Discussed |
| Consent items: code, Provo agreement and appointments | Approved · 6-0 |
| Final amendment to the FY2023-2024 budget | Approved · 6-0 |
| Enterprise fund transfers for FY2024-2025 | No action |
| Executive officer compensation increases (SB 91) | Approved · 6-0 |
| FY2024-2025 city budget and tax rates | Approved · 6-0 |
Agenda, item by item
Item Work session · Presentation
Utah Renewable Communities program
Discussed
Board members of Utah Renewable Communities, a coalition of 18 communities working with Rocky Mountain Power, described a program to supplement customers' energy mix with utility-scale clean energy, aiming for net-100 percent renewable by 2030 with the program online by December 2029. Estimated cost to typical households is $2 to $7 more per month, with an enhanced bill credit up to $7 for qualifying households; rates would be set by the Utah Public Service Commission. Joining would cost Orem $71,474.52 over two fiscal years, with a final payment due by August 31, 2024 and a participation ordinance within 90 days of commission approval. No vote was taken.
- Fee$71,475 to Utah Renewable Communities
Item Work session · Presentation
UTOPIA and North Pointe Solid Waste presentations
Discussed
UTOPIA Executive Director Roger Timmerman said the fiber network has grown to over 60,000 subscribers, 25,000 of them in Orem, and that Orem will receive a $958,136 check for 2024 bond repayment. North Pointe's director said a transfer station expansion is estimated at $10 million to $15 million and is being evaluated with the county for bonding, and that the Bayview landfill lease runs through 2082 with disposal held at $10.50 per ton.
- Payment$958,136 to UTOPIA
Item Work session · Public safety
School safety review and victim assistance
Discussed
Police Captain Scott Spieth said youth arrests have trended up over three years but schools remain safe, and noted emerging concerns including sextortion, gang-related social media activity and AI-generated harmful material. The victim advocate unit reported helping 886 people since July 1, 2023, including 621 domestic violence victims, and said numbers are rising.
Item Work session · Roads and utilities
Interlocal agreement with Provo for 2000 South utilities
Discussed
Acting City Engineer Taggart Bowen said Provo designed and bid the 2000 South utility project, which includes shared 54- and 48-inch storm drains and 12-inch water lines for each city. After higher-than-expected bids in March, Provo rebid it and the June 11 bid came in at $2,074,125. The assistant city manager said the project is already budgeted and is part of Orem's master plan.
Item Consent · Roads and utilities
Consent items: code, Provo agreement and appointments
Approved · 6-0
The council approved the water reclamation, pretreatment and local limits ordinance, a resolution for the interlocal agreement with Provo on 2000 South utilities, the updated 2024 council schedule, the reappointment of Kathleen Turner to the Transportation Advisory Commission and the appointment of Rod Erickson to the Planning Commission.
- Contract$2.07 million to Provo City (contractor bid)
Item Scheduled · Budget
Final amendment to the FY2023-2024 budget
Approved · 6-0
Finance Director Brandon Nelson presented final amendments for the current year covering grants received, surplus capital project funds, interest earnings, fire station safety repairs, Hillcrest Park funds, IT upgrades, Monday senior meals and electric vehicle charging station revenues. No one spoke at the hearing.
Item Scheduled · Budget
Enterprise fund transfers for FY2024-2025
No action
Nelson explained that state law requires a public hearing on transfers from enterprise funds to other funds. The state auditor requires the city to charge itself retail rates for utility services to city properties, and the city chose to pay them through transfers, which net to zero between the general fund and enterprise funds. No one spoke and no vote was recorded on this hearing.
Item Scheduled · Budget
Executive officer compensation increases (SB 91)
Approved · 6-0
To comply with a new state law, the council adopted an ordinance setting a 3 percent merit increase for specific city executive officers. The city manager is excluded because he recently signed a new agreement. No one spoke at the hearing.
Item Scheduled · Budget
FY2024-2025 city budget and tax rates
Approved · 6-0
Nelson presented the final budget of $160,124,695: revenues of $135,375,910, transfers of $24,706,785 and $42,000 of surplus, with $63,726,954 for personnel, $71,415,243 for operations and $24,982,498 for capital. It funds merit and step increases and market adjustments, includes no health insurance increase, $3,475,500 for fleet and $17,139,261 for capital projects. Enterprise funds include water ($19,645,573), water reclamation ($15,648,864), storm water ($6,492,002), recreation ($4,556,200) and solid waste ($5,457,000). Nelson said Orem's average total utility cost is $117.48 versus an average of $149.42 in comparison cities. The motion also adopted compensation programs, fees and the property tax, energy sales and use, telecommunications, transient room and E-911 rates. No one spoke at the hearing.
- Budget$160.1 million
What residents said
Holly Sweeten, a candidate for House District 58, introduced herself. No one spoke at the budget hearings.