Departments and committees have been hard at work as the Fiscal Year 2018 budget adoption approaches for local governments. Vernal City has held multiple budget workshops and hearings in recent weeks as they whittle down the budget to match revenues. City Manager Ken Bassett communicated clearly that most revenue for the city is from sales tax which is down significantly making it necessary to tighten belts and not have any major capital expenditures. Total expenditures in the water fund were reported at $2.6 million dollars while total revenues have only reached $2.4 million dollars. The same situation exists in the sewer fund and Bassett suggested the council discuss utility rates. The expenditures in 2016 were higher than 2015 due to a combination of expenses including an increase in the cost for treated water. Water/Sewer Superintendent Mike Davis explained that while it is not popular to raise water rates, when the City has approached the Community Impact Board for funding they are told that the City is not charging enough. Davis stated a water rate increase of 50 cents and a sewer rate increase of 50 cents would cover the added costs. The information was just for the council’s consideration into the future.
