JUNE – JULY 2022 IN THIS ISSUE:
Connect With Us! sandy.utah.gov/citizenconnect
Z News.............................................1
River Oaks Golf Course .....................5
Sandy City Council & Staff.................2
July 4th Freedom Day ........................5
Alta Canyon Sports Center.................3
Fireworks Safety ................................6
Sandy Arts: Youth Showcase ..............3
Fireworks: Prohibited Areas ................6
Sandy Amphitheater 2022 Season ....3
Sandy City Street Light Innovation......6
Sandy Arts: Auditions Crazy for You .....3
Public Works: Quick Tips ....................7
Parks & Recreation ...........................4
Calendar of Events............................7
FREE Patriotic Pops Concert...............4
Photo contest winner: Andrew Hyer
Z News Dear Sandy Resident,
On May 3rd, I presented the Mayor’s city budget to the people of Sandy. This is the result of a months-long process where I, along with my finance team and department heads, have scrutinized expenses, prioritized services and identified savings in order to deliver a lean and balanced city budget to the taxpayers of Sandy who are the center of everything we do. Since then, our weekly City Council meetings are dedicated to reviewing my proposed budget, one department at a time, before the council votes to adopt the final FY22-23 city budget. Far from boring, this is the most fascinating work we do all year because our budget demonstrates our community goals and values. As mayor, my job is to ensure every tax dollar is managed carefully to improve quality of life in Sandy. Do we want a safe community that’s prepared in emergencies? Police and Fire Departments need the biggest chunk of our city’s budget for public safety and emergency services. Do we want roads maintained and swept, snow plowed, garbage services, recycling and curbside bulk waste continuing? Every citizen survey ranks parks, trails and recreation at the top of what people love about Sandy. From the big projects down to the little details - how we spend our budget is a direct reflection of your priorities and expectation for high level services. For the full FY2023 proposed budget go to sandy.utah.gov/budget. Sandy City is on strong fiscal footing with our AAA bond rating and savings to start funding one-time capital projects that were deferred over the last two years due to COVID. For years, the city has grappled with how to fund our much-needed long term capital projects like renovating our busiest fire station (Station 31 on 9000 South), rebuilding the city’s mechanic’s garage and vehicle storage at Public Works headquarters, upgrading the historic I S S U E # 93
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building that is home to Parks & Recreation, as well as the renovation or rebuild of Alta Canyon Sports Center. Like every business, however, our operating budget is feeling the pressure of the same realities you must be facing in your household budget. With today’s economy, we are struggling to keep up with record inflation, higher wages in a tightening job market, skyrocketing fuel prices and maintenance costs that are gobbling department budgets with each mile our police cars, fire trucks and ambulances, and bulk waste dump trucks travel down the road. The good news is there’s no property tax increase this year. With expenses on the rise, we have been fortunate to receive increased sales tax revenue to help us meet our needs. However, a shortfall remains and that is why I proposed a fee increase for household garbage services to cover the cost of increased fuel and vehicle replacement and ensure our popular and convenient curbside bulk waste service is properly funded. Even with the fee increase, our monthly garbage bill is still lower than surrounding cities that do not offer bulk waste pickup. Although my proposed budget does not include a property tax increase, this is a good time to talk about where your property taxes go. You might be surprised to learn that only 10% of your property taxes go to Sandy City. The lion’s share goes to school districts and to the county. For an average home value of $475,000 residents pay just $307 for all of the city services provided. Sandy actually has one of the lowest property taxes in the valley. Compare Sandy property taxes to Salt Lake City where the same household pays $894 per year or West Valley at $783. We are proud of the efficient use of tax dollars that fund police, fire, road repair, parks and trails, the list goes on and on. You might also be surprised to know that property tax does not increase when home values rise. The city receives a set amount of property taxes yearly regardless of home prices rising and falling. Property taxes
can only increase through the truth in taxation process which requires a public meeting and a vote by the city council. To learn more about your property taxes you can visit sandy. utah.gov/propertytax. Over the coming weeks, the city council will be examining the budget, one line-item at a time. You are welcome to attend and weigh in at the 5:15 citizen comment. Please attend the upcoming council meetings on June 7th and June 21st to be part of the process that molds my proposed budget into a final product. The mayor’s office, city council and city staff are always available to answer questions and incorporate your suggestions. We welcome your feedback! Don’t forget to mark your calendars for the Emergency Management Townhall on June 15th at 6 pm! There will be valuable information on what the city is doing to prepare for an emergency and what you should do in your home to prepare as well. If you are a Facebook user, please take a minute to follow the Sandy Mayor Monica Zoltanski page. Social media is a quick and convenient way to share with residents the daily goings on in the Mayor’s office. It is also a great way to bring attention to any matters that need immediate action and I update my content almost daily. Sign up for Sandy Notify to be contacted via text, email and calls during an emergency at sandy.utah.gov/myalerts. You can always connect with us by going to our City websites sandy.utah.gov and SandyNow.com and by accessing our social media channels Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube for daily updated information. To sign up for emergency notifications visit sandy.utah.gov/ citizenconnect. To reach me directly, please send an email to mayor@sandy.utah.gov. For a list of summer events see the calendar of events in the Sandy Journal. Yours in Service, Mayor Monica Zoltanski P A G E
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