Residents of Utah’s most populous county may see funding for a new arts center in South Jordan, raises for county employees and a continuation of free recreation center passes for kids and teens if decision-makers adopt Salt Lake County Mayor Jenny Wilson’s proposed 2025 budget.
Despite a slowdown in tax revenue, Wilson told County Council members last month, residents won’t face any proposed tax hikes associated with the “fiscally conservative” $2 billion budget.
“When it comes to the 2025 budget, I’m not going to bury the lead,” Wilson said. “This is a particularly challenging budget year.”
This marks the second consecutive year Wilson has described the county’s spending plan as “challenging.” Last year, the mayor proposed a hiring freeze and deep travel cuts to balance the 2024 budget, but also set aside funding for the My County Rec Pass program and eliminating library late fees for kids.
If approved in its current form, next year’s budget would continue funding the rec pass program and late-fee waivers.
A $25 million donation from the Larry H. and Gail Miller Family Foundation will cover much of South Jordan’s new arts center, but Wilson’s budget calls for a $15 million allocation from the county next year to cover additional building costs.
The new arts facility would be the third in Salt Lake County, and is slated to include an 800-seat theater to be constructed by 2026 or 2027, Wilson said. The center would contribute to the county’s goal to have a regional performing arts center in each of the Salt Lake Valley’s quadrants, she added.
“This is one of the most significant arts and culture investments that the Larry H. and Gail Miller Family Foundation has made, and is the largest gift provided in Salt Lake County’s history from a private donor,” Wilson said. “I am so deeply grateful to Gail Miller, her family, and the Miller organization for this extremely generous gift — one that will benefit so many residents in the southwest quadrant of our valley.”
Wilson’s budget also calls for funding employee raises, including pay bumps of 4.75% for police officers and 3.5% for other employees.
The proposal, released last month, included funding for an expansion of the county jail and construction of a new justice and accountability center, but that spending relied on voters embracing a half-billion-dollar bond for public safety, homelessness solutions and criminal justice reform in last week’s general election. As of 2 p.m. Monday, the bond was trailing, with 51.6% of voters who weighed in on it opposing the measure.
The council will present the finalized budget for public comment later this month, and is slated to cast a final vote in mid-December, a county spokesperson said.
