Sandy City Council hammering out leaner budget

SANDY — The Sandy City Council is struggling to reconcile the 2009 budget while pinching pennies in planning for 2010.

The city's revenues are down 6.7 percent compared with plans for this fiscal year, according to a copy of the proposed budget introduced earlier this month.

The city has fired a building-inspection contractor and has had four total layoffs, including seasonal and full-time employees.

Despite budget difficulties, city officials do not plan to increase property taxes this year.

Sandy employees are also being hit hard by an 8.5 percent increase to health-care costs. It amounts to a pay cut for many employees, none of whom will receive cost-of-living pay increases this year, according to a presentation by city finance director Art Hunter.

Despite budget shortfalls, the city is moving forward with street repair and the hiring of police officers, thanks to federal funds. Sandy also plans to open an urban fishery this year, with the help of federal dollars. However, the development of two planned community centers has been put on hold indefinitely.

Meanwhile, the Sandy City Council is considering putting money in a tourism fund jointly operated by the city, local hotels and Snowbird Ski and Summer Resort.

City departments have been meeting with elected officials to hammer out finance details. The final budget must be approved by mid-June.

E-mail: rpalmer@desnews.com

Proposed Sandy budget, fiscal year 2010

General fund: $91 million

Property tax: No increase

City employees: Four positions eliminated

City services: Increased focus on neighborhood preservation

Employee raises: None