Development News for Highland, Utah

Highland City Council Discusses Budget Adjustments, Elected Official Pay, and Trail Maintenance

The Highland City Council engaged in a discussion regarding proposed budget adjustments for the upcoming fiscal year. Key changes discussed included the finalization of cemetery fund payback to the general fund, a slight increase in the Lone Peak budget due to Central Utah 9-11 and retirement number adjustments, the need for ADA compliance software for website documents, and a request for $2,000 for open house spending. A significant portion of the discussion focused on potential elected official pay adjustments, with a comparison to other Utah County cities indicating that Highland officials are undercompensated. While some council members expressed concern about raising salaries during a property tax increase, there was a consensus to explore increasing the mayor's salary, with a proposed figure of $18,900, and to defer council salary increases until after the next municipal election. Staff will provide updated information on the fiscal impact of these proposed changes, particularly regarding the mayor's salary and URS contributions, for the next meeting. Additionally, the council addressed trail maintenance, with a consensus to explore allocating funds for trail improvements, possibly through a mid-year budget adjustment or pilot program, and acknowledged the need for better trail maintenance strategies.