[0:02] All right, everyone. Welcome to the

[0:05] Wasatch Front Regional Council Budget

[0:06] Committee agenda for May 14th, 2026.

[0:10] Um, we have on the agenda item number

[0:14] one, which is um, introductions. We

[0:17] probably don't need introductions. We

[0:18] all know each other. Um,

[0:20] I would just like to read the names into

[0:22] the record.

[0:23] >> Andrea. Okay, thank you. Attending today

[0:25] we have Andrew Gruber, Andrea Pearson,

[0:28] Marian Florence, Jim Harvey, Amy Winder

[0:31] Newton, Wayne Benyon, Lee Perry, Bob

[0:34] Stevenson, and Don Ramsey. Thanks.

[0:37] Thank you so much. So, our first action

[0:40] that we need to take is approval of the

[0:42] minutes for March 19th, 2026.

[0:45] And then also acceptance of the current

[0:48] financial report and financial

[0:49] statements and check registers for

[0:51] February and March 2026.

[0:54] So, is there anyone who has any

[0:55] questions or comments or would like to

[0:57] make a motion? I'll move that we approve

[1:00] the minutes as presented. Second. Okay,

[1:03] we have a motion by

[1:05] uh, Commissioner Stevenson with a second

[1:07] by Commissioner Harvey. Thank you. All

[1:09] in favor, say aye. Aye.

[1:11] >> Aye. Aye. Any opposed?

[1:14] All right, that passes unanimously. Item

[1:16] number two is our public comment. Is

[1:18] there anyone

[1:19] >> just to interject. I'm Andrea, um,

[1:22] Council member Wardle is having the same

[1:24] Zoom access problem, so can you tell him

[1:27] whatever you told others so he can pass

[1:29] the aptitude test and endure as well,

[1:31] please.

[1:32] >> [laughter]

[1:32] >> Thank you.

[1:36] Thanks. Okay, item number two is our

[1:38] budget uh, or I'm sorry, public comment.

[1:41] Is there anyone who would like to speak

[1:44] during public comment?

[1:47] Do we have anybody from the public on?

[1:50] We do not. Okay. All right. Um, so we

[1:54] will move along to item number three.

[1:56] This is our WFRC budget committee action

[1:59] item.

[2:00] Um we need to recommend that the council

[2:04] approve the draft fiscal year '27 WFRC

[2:08] goals budget and unified planning work

[2:10] program.

[2:11] And so um

[2:13] are there any We we talked about this

[2:15] last time we met. Um we also talked

[2:17] about it in our

[2:18] uh board meeting. Is there anyone who

[2:20] has any questions on that? I would love

[2:22] to know if we've had public input since

[2:24] we first put it out.

[2:26] >> We have not had any public comment.

[2:29] Um we did I think the only time I've had

[2:32] a public comment was uh 2 years ago and

[2:34] it was a nice comment saying, "Thanks so

[2:36] much for sending this."

[2:38] And that was about it. Um so we do send

[2:40] that out. We send um We send everything

[2:43] out for public comment. We actually even

[2:45] reach out to the COGs um specifically to

[2:49] make sure that they've seen it. And so

[2:51] um I can only assume that they saw it

[2:54] and read it carefully and don't have any

[2:56] comments.

[2:58] Sounds great. Does anybody Any of the

[3:00] budget committee members, do you have

[3:02] any comments or questions on it?

[3:07] I did want to um

[3:09] make sure that we went through very

[3:11] quickly. There are um So let's see if

[3:13] there's any questions to begin. And

[3:15] then, Madam Chair, if it's okay, I do

[3:18] have two adjustments I wanted to make

[3:20] sure that you guys were aware of.

[3:22] Yep, it doesn't look like we have any

[3:24] questions. So go ahead, Marian. Okay.

[3:26] And then of course at the end if there

[3:28] are questions [clears throat]

[3:28] about this um so this is as you know,

[3:32] this is a routine meeting that we do in

[3:34] May following our meeting in March when

[3:37] we reviewed the initial draft of the FY

[3:40] '27 goals, budget, and unified work

[3:43] program. Um and so as I said, no public

[3:46] comment. Um and so those goals, those

[3:49] three high-level goals

[3:51] um remain the same as,

[3:54] um,

[3:56] as we had them before, um, and so they

[3:58] are these.

[4:00] Uh, to collaboratively advance the

[4:02] Wasatch Choice Vision, to provide

[4:04] subject matter expertise, and to strive

[4:07] for organizational excellence. We have

[4:09] some sub-goals that go underneath that,

[4:12] um,

[4:13] but this is those are our our high-level

[4:15] goals.

[4:17] And then on our

[4:19] budget, I just wanted to pull this up.

[4:23] Is that showing the budget screen there?

[4:25] It is.

[4:26] >> Yeah, you've got the the the three top

[4:28] line goals, which as we noted have not

[4:30] changed from March.

[4:33] >> So, now I will carefully bring up

[4:38] the

[4:39] budget, and I can show you

[4:43] where we had, um, so this is the same

[4:47] blur of numbers that we shared last

[4:49] time. I'm, um, and I wanted to just

[4:52] reiterate that we haven't changed any of

[4:54] them. Our discussion about how we got to

[4:57] some of these numbers. The one that that

[4:59] we have two adjustments, one large, one

[5:01] small.

[5:02] Um, the large adjustment is here on the

[5:04] contractual line, and that is the line

[5:07] where we show work that we do on studies

[5:09] and projects where we need to use

[5:11] outside consulting vendors, outside

[5:14] vendors, specialized help. Last June, we

[5:18] applied for a regional infrastructure

[5:20] accelerator grant from the US Department

[5:22] of Transportation,

[5:23] and we just got word, um, two weeks ago.

[5:25] I think we sent an email out to you. We

[5:27] got word that we'd been awarded one of

[5:30] 14 grants in the entire nation. So, we

[5:33] had applied for 1.5 million, and we were

[5:36] awarded just over a million, 1.150.

[5:40] Um, and so now this number that, uh,

[5:44] back in March was 3.3 is now 4.4

[5:47] million, And so that's where you see

[5:49] that showing up. Um

[5:52] And so what does that actually mean for

[5:54] us and what we're doing? Just really

[5:56] briefly, the Reia grant um is helping we

[6:00] have 98 stationary plans that we've

[6:02] certified in our area and counting. We

[6:04] continue to do that as you know every

[6:06] meeting. And this is we see this as the

[6:09] next step in getting towards

[6:11] implementing those plans that we're

[6:12] doing here. So we have specialized

[6:14] consultants who can help us identify

[6:16] financing strategies to move towards

[6:19] implementation. So it's really exciting

[6:21] for us at WFRC that we were awarded this

[6:23] grant which we feel like really helps us

[6:26] continue that that centers work that

[6:29] we're doing to make sure that these get

[6:30] implemented. Um that's the one big

[6:34] change, million-dollar change. Um and

[6:37] then we also every year uh we get an

[6:40] updated number from the Federal Transit

[6:42] Administration. As you know, our

[6:45] consolidated planning grant has three

[6:47] kinds of federal funds in it and this

[6:50] Federal Transit Administration we uh

[6:53] received an updated number. Um it was

[6:55] $25,000 more than what we had initially

[6:58] had estimated and so that's good news

[7:00] and so it's here incorporated under the

[7:02] revenue side. And so we just

[7:05] incorporated that as soon as we get that

[7:07] estimate from from UDot uh and so that's

[7:10] why we included it here. So those are

[7:13] the two changes to the budget. That

[7:15] means that the total budget is now 11.8

[7:19] which you can see is very similar to

[7:22] this time a year ago when it was 12.2.

[7:25] So typical our our initial budget is

[7:27] about in that range um and I'm happy to

[7:30] answer any questions about any of the specific lines. I wanted to note

[7:34] that we've also

[7:36] included that Reia grant into the UPWP.

[7:39] So the summary was changed only in that

[7:41] way. We added one

[7:43] small sentence to reflect this work that

[7:45] we're now going to be doing under the

[7:47] REA grant.

[7:49] Um

[7:50] That's good news when we get more

[7:51] revenue. So

[7:53] >> Yeah, more revenue and not from

[7:54] taxpayers. Well,

[7:56] I know this is

[7:57] >> our local taxpayers, I guess.

[7:59] >> That's just why I like doing

[7:59] governmental finance at WFRC because

[8:02] it's not relying on tax money. It's

[8:04] relying on these um

[8:05] you know, federal formula funds and

[8:08] grant and these one in these good

[8:09] discretionary grant funds that we have

[8:11] to

[8:12] >> which technically is still tax money,

[8:13] but it's not local.

[8:14] >> Yes, exactly. It's That's right. Yeah.

[8:16] That's right.

[8:17] >> It's not us having to raise taxes to

[8:19] >> That's correct. That's correct.

[8:20] >> Right. And we're and part of the

[8:22] approach is ah, very good. Council

[8:24] member Wardle has been listening for a

[8:26] while and has uh now successfully joined

[8:28] us. Council member, thank you and you've

[8:30] uh you've passed the um

[8:33] the aptitude test to to join us. We

[8:35] really appreciate it. Council member

[8:37] Winder Newton, to your point, of course,

[8:39] the funds that we get from the federal

[8:40] government are tax dollars that go to

[8:42] Washington and we, you know, work to put

[8:46] those bring as many funds back to Utah

[8:48] as we can and put them to use.

[8:50] And just very briefly, this REA grant um

[8:54] the infrastructure accelerators grant

[8:56] through USDOT, we're really excited

[8:59] about it because

[9:01] we, as Marion said, we aim to use this

[9:04] these funds to provide help to local

[9:07] communities to turn their stationary

[9:10] plans into reality and put together the

[9:12] funding and financing strategies

[9:15] to actually get the housing and the

[9:17] infrastructure uh built to address the

[9:20] growth in our region. So, we're really

[9:22] excited about it. It's going to take a

[9:23] while just to get that contract

[9:25] executed. So, we'll get that going over

[9:28] the months to come.

[9:30] Uh I'll just add about that also. The

[9:33] timing works well for us to be in a bit

[9:35] of a pause because our project manager

[9:38] is Meg Pagen

[9:41] who is now out on maternity leave

[9:43] because she just had her her baby, baby

[9:45] Sadie.

[9:46] Uh so, mom and baby are doing well and

[9:49] she'll come back just in time to pick up

[9:51] the reins again uh and project manage

[9:54] that Riya effort for us. So, we're

[9:56] excited about that. Wow, we'll send our

[9:58] congratulations to her. That's awesome.

[10:00] We'll do.

[10:03] Thanks, Marion. Anything else?

[10:06] So, that is my whole spiel on the budget

[10:09] and the UPWP and the goals. Um

[10:14] So, basically, we just need that

[10:16] recommendation to take this same

[10:18] information to the council for their

[10:20] approval.

[10:21] Okay, that's what we're looking for.

[10:23] Does anybody want to make a motion to

[10:24] that effect?

[10:28] I'll make a motion, Madam Chair, that we

[10:30] uh

[10:32] do that as presented by Marion today.

[10:35] Ms. Florence.

[10:36] Great. So, we have a motion by

[10:38] Commissioner Harvey. Is there a second?

[10:41] I'll second it.

[10:43] Seconded by Commissioner Perry. And that

[10:46] motion is to recommend uh that the WFRC

[10:49] Council approve the goals, budget, and

[10:52] unified work program. So,

[10:54] we will vote on that. All in favor, say

[10:56] I. I.

[10:59] Any opposed?

[11:01] Okay, that passes unanimously. Um our

[11:03] next item is the fiscal year 26 fraud

[11:06] risk assessment.

[11:08] Yes, and I can um go through this pretty

[11:11] quickly. As you all know, probably

[11:13] painfully aware, this is a requirement

[11:16] by the Utah State Auditor that we do

[11:17] annually reflecting on the year that

[11:20] we've just finished and we have again

[11:23] scored the lowest risk category. The The

[11:27] sheets are in your packet um

[11:29] with all of the detail about that

[11:31] scoring uh but I just wanted to report

[11:33] to you

[11:35] partly because

[11:37] um your oversight of the budget

[11:39] committee is part of what makes us a

[11:41] lowest risk category because we have a

[11:44] great committee that meets and reviews

[11:46] materials diligently and and that is

[11:49] part of what they're scoring on. So, I

[11:50] really appreciate you being able to do

[11:53] that for us. Um we also scored low on

[11:56] internal um lowest risk on internal

[12:00] controls, which is a something that as a

[12:02] small agency, it's it's kind of tricky

[12:04] to make sure, but our auditors always

[12:06] commend us in August about how we're

[12:08] able to have our internal controls in

[12:11] place both in policy and in practice.

[12:14] And so, that's something that we like to

[12:17] show you guys and it's also reflected in

[12:19] that uh questionnaire that they send

[12:21] out. So, we'll be submitting that after

[12:23] your review, we'll be submitting that to

[12:25] the state auditor and also to the

[12:27] council in in a couple of weeks.

[12:32] You're muted, Council Member Windham.

[12:35] Thank you. Good job. That is great work

[12:37] and um

[12:39] we'll look forward to having that before

[12:41] the whole council.

[12:43] Um

[12:43] and then number item number five today

[12:45] is the executive director report,

[12:47] Andrew.

[12:49] Um I'll just express appreciation for

[12:51] the for on the last item on the fraud

[12:54] risk assessment. Um we've always taken

[12:56] this work very seriously, the

[12:58] transparency, the good procedures, and

[13:00] with Marion's work, it's even better

[13:03] than it, you know, was in the past. And

[13:06] so, we're real proud of that. It's

[13:07] important that we take seriously the use

[13:09] of taxpayer dollars. I know that you all

[13:11] expect that of us.

[13:13] You do it in your own primary work and

[13:15] you expect it of us. We take that very

[13:16] seriously. I don't have anything else

[13:18] for um executive director's report.

[13:21] We'll look forward to seeing some of you

[13:24] at our

[13:25] uh regional growth committee meeting,

[13:26] which is next week. And the, on the

[13:30] 21st, and then our council meeting on

[13:32] the Thursday the 28th at 1:30. Um, if

[13:35] anybody has any

[13:36] anything they want me to talk about, or

[13:38] any questions for me, or for Maryanne,

[13:40] or for Wayne, or Andrea, we're of course

[13:42] happy to answer any questions.

[13:44] Great. Thank you. Does anybody have any

[13:46] other questions, or are we, or any other

[13:49] business they want to bring before the

[13:50] budget committee?

[13:53] Seeing none, we'll go ahead and adjourn

[13:55] this meeting, and we will give Fair, uh,

[13:57] if if this is a personal matter, if I

[13:59] can just share one personal note, and

[14:02] that is my daughter's getting married on

[14:05] Saturday. So, first kid to get married,

[14:08] so, yeah, FYI,

[14:10] uh, here, you know, here in Utah, so,

[14:12] I'm excited about that. So, just wanted

[14:14] to share with you as friends. So

[14:16] exciting. Give Chloe our best. I didn't

[14:18] know that. Yeah.

[14:19] >> Congratulations. That's awesome.

[14:23] Do you remember how old your parents

[14:24] were when you got married? I'm just

[14:26] putting things in perspective.

[14:28] Uh,

[14:29] >> [laughter]

[14:29] >> They seemed very old, I think that's the

[14:32] point. Yeah, yeah, that's that that you

[14:33] got it, Maryanne, that's that perfect.

[14:35] Good luck. Uh-huh, yeah, thanks a lot.

[14:37] [laughter]

[14:37] >> happy for you guys. Very happy for your

[14:40] whole family. Thank you.

[14:41] >> Should I mute, or stop the recording?

[14:44] >> Yeah, we're good. Yeah, sorry. That's

[14:46] acceptable to be on the record, I think.

[14:47] Thank you very much.

[14:48] >> [laughter]

[14:49] >> Okay.

[14:50] Well, safe travels to Don and Lee, hang

[14:53] in there, and everyone else with Bob,

[14:57] heal well. Yep.

[14:59] And Jim, whatever issues you have, or

[15:00] Scott, you know, and everyone else. I

[15:03] hang out with Bob, but thank you. All

[15:05] right. [laughter]

[15:05] Thank you. Thanks. Ooh, hey, from the streets of New York, I like it.

[15:09] Thanks, Mayor Ramsey. Be safe. Okay. See

[15:12] you, guys. All right, everybody.

[15:14] Take care.

Budget Committee - May 14, 2026

Transcript