Bluffdale officials mulling nearly $3 million wish list
Mayor pushing for purchase of property for a new cemetery
Interim administrative services director Dave Sanderson has prepared a balanced, mostly status quo general-fund budget of nearly $3.9 million, with no plans to raise property taxes or increase fees.
That could change if the Bluffdale City Council approves additional funding requests from city department heads, including Mayor Claudia Anderson.
"There were some (funding requests) that were left out," Anderson said Monday. "We're asking if we should fund any of those things."
Anderson said she is not proposing a tax increase, but she isn't opposed to one, either, if it means meeting the financial needs of the city. The mayor proposed an 82 percent property tax increase for 2006-07, and the City Council ultimately OK'd a 36 percent increase.
A budget work session is set for 4:30 p.m. today prior to the City Council meeting at Bluffdale City Hall, 14175 S. Redwood Road. A public hearing on the budget is set for June 19.
Anderson's personal wish list totals $580,000, with about $200,000 of that going to a yearly payment to purchase property for a new city cemetery.
Bluffdale residents strongly opposed the facility opening at the location, leading Anderson to deny Brown's application for a business license last month. Brown has since offered to sell the $1 million property to the city, Anderson said, and the city has it under contract.
A public hearing on the potential property acquisition is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at City Hall. The City Council is expected to vote on the issue following the hearing.
"Our Bluffdale cemetery is full," Anderson said. "It's an ideal place for a new cemetery, and we need one."
The mayor proposes selling cemetery lots to help pay for the property. The large home on the lot could be utilized as a temporary city hall, she said.
"I think it's the right thing to do for our citizens," Anderson said. "I'm just bringing it to the City Council to see if they want to support it."
The mayor also is proposing to increase money allocated for legal fees by $100,000 — nearly doubling the budgeted amount — with a Utah Supreme Court ruling pending on the disconnection of 4,000 acres from the city.
Money already has been located in the proposed budget for nearly $300,000 worth of additional requests from department heads — including $100,000 to boost police coverage.
You can be the first to comment on this story.