But because West Bountiful is starting over with its budget now, it will file its budget late.

On July 1, the council will meet for a budget meeting and have a final budget review by July 29. It expects to adopt its budget by August 5.

"I'm a bit wary of not having something passed before June 22," Behunin said.

The state auditor can withhold a city's tax revenue, said Van Christensen of the State Auditor's Office.

But the office won't know which cities are late until July 22. If the state auditor doesn't receive a budget filing, it sends a notice of noncompliance and could begin withholding funds if nothing is received within 30 days.

For the past four years, the city has received a noncompliance letter from the state auditor, he said, mostly because one city fund or another has overspent its budget.

Because West Bountiful won't have a final budget by the start of the fiscal year on July 1, it will likely operate off the tentative budget.

"I'm not happy with this," Behunin said. "I've been trying for years to see some way to improve things."

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E-mail: jdougherty@desnews.com