Spanish Fork barely passes budget

SPANISH FORK — Spanish Fork's $46.7 million 2005-06 fiscal year budget squeaked by the City Council on Tuesday when two of the five councilmen voted against it.

Councilmen Chris Wadsworth and Matt Barber voted against the spending plan, which is $10.1 million higher than this year's budget.

The budget is up over current funding because of plans to build a new police and courts building, continue working on the city's new sports park and make improvements to the sewer treatment plant.

Officials say the city will have to go into debt for $7 million to cover the cost of the new police building, a move that would have to be approved by voters. Fees builders pay to construct new homes will be increased to pay for the $1.5 million addition to the sports park and $1.5 million in upgrades to the plant.

Several residents objected at the last City Council meeting to the way city government spends taxpayer money.

Wadsworth didn't want the city giving non-public safety employees a 17.99 percent retirement benefits package, well above the state's 11.9 percent retirement package. City police officers have a 19.36 percent retirement package.

"I object to the extra 6.81 percent 401k (contribution)," he said.

Government workers shouldn't get any more in benefits than private citizens get, he said.

He also objected to plans by city officials to build the next phase of its sports park, budgeted at $1.5 million. The city built the first phase with volunteer labor after residents voted down a tax increase to raise $8 million for it in 1999 on a 2-1 margin. So far, about $4 million has been spent on the park.

Rather, the council should first use and repair fields jointly owned and maintained by the city and the Nebo School District.

He also suggested the council put a bubble over the city pool so it could be used year-round.

Barber said the council failed to have a "robust debate" with residents over the budget and shouldn't pass the budget until that happens. The council should provide essential services first, including public safety and utilities, before getting into other phases of public spending, he said.

Finally, Barber objected to the council using excess money from the electric budget to fund other activities, including the city's Spanish Oaks Municipal Golf Course.

Wadsworth, too, questioned the electric budget and the 6 percent energy tax put on power and natural gas sales. The money goes into the general fund, City Manager Dave Oyler said. Wadsworth suggested the council study that tax when a planned rate study comes before the council. The council could also review the tax when the budget comes back for revision this fall, Oyler said.

But if the tax is reduced, expenditures will have to match it, he added.

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