[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6634187,"mediaKeyId","3353097-99555c0ceeeb11e1df80971312416fa4","parentId",3353097,"title","Council weighs $400K‑a‑year chip‑seal plan and prioritizes water connections, moves some park projects to year two","audioSeconds",455,"startMs",6684650,"endMs",7140250,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3353097-99555c0ceeeb11e1df80971312416fa4&start=6684&end=7140","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3353097-99555c0ceeeb11e1df80971312416fa4/thumbnail_6684650.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6634187/Virgin/Washington-County/Utah/Council-weighs-400Kayear-chipseal-plan-and-prioritizes-water-connections-moves-some-park-projects-to-year-two","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6634187-63c328c03fd8403e47c9d3dff60eee46/orig.mp4?Expires=1770982585&Signature=bqc9mbmnju-77-zRAdeiyp3OiGXxm2rXrTFz~WD77FEw-9NS1Oe3LtPWNo~4T0z9X09ZZ-jRIkW~uR05MUOKK69XbKEYw6RcomzKRXB59cvJ22oa-MVnXd51FaTJhIKDm5KCdShIT33FUmrVnzq8vWjHLmwsKLUPIAxqiMDgbBLpvrAdUYPLokFMamq7OHgs8DyA5jaGF4dOmayr8foAVY4jChC9oQCbXyIkifjlUOG~Pd8w3EScZ2cRc1uCZ-KCzbmLRDQEC7OAXy6~mkyc3JkMYZyd1rmxeh-mYuqeDq4i3R27aq4wwfc7-QDr8~0HFMP9pbAX3TQufeZGP7Acow__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Virgin","date","2025-05-17T03:35:04Z","article","Virgin — The council’s May 14 budget work session turned to capital projects, where staff presented a five‑year plan that would spread road maintenance, stormwater, water and parks projects over multiple years.

Major proposals and priorities

- Roads: Staff and the town engineer proposed a multi‑year program to chip‑seal town streets, with an estimate near $400,000 per year over five years. Councilors discussed whether to prioritize a set of particularly deteriorated segments — notably 100 West, Cemetery Road and the 175 North loop — and whether to spread work over two years.

- Water connections and safety: Councilors elevated a water‑line connection (identified in the plan as work to link lines behind Buffalo Trails to the Highway 9 main) and a separate set of dead‑end lines (noted as the Don Butler connector and two other line extensions) to top priorities. Staff described these projects as improving water pressure and eliminating a possible cross‑connection that poses public‑health and safety concerns; the council asked that the Don Butler connection be treated as a first priority for year‑one funding.

- Stormwater and drainage: The capital plan includes a stormwater drainage master plan already under way; councilors decided to await the study’s final recommendations before committing some of the heavier‑cost stormwater projects, though they agreed to monitor two drainage fixes flagged as potentially urgent.

- Parks: Staff proposed park improvements including a playground replacement and a shade structure. Councilors moved the proposed shade structure and a larger bridge repair to year two pending the outcome of the parks master plan (the “post plan”) and potential grant opportunities for shade/playground equipment.

Budgeting and funding questions

Councilors and staff discussed use of impact‑fee accounts for some road projects and asked staff to report available balances for roads and other impact‑fee funds at the next meeting. They also asked for clearer separation of capital outlay (items above the town’s capitalization threshold) and equipment maintenance (smaller operating expenses) so that the capital plan and operating budget do not double‑count items.

Next steps

- Staff to supply cost estimates for high‑priority items (Don Butler water connection, 100 West repairs), provide current impact‑fee account balances, and identify which road projects can be advanced with available funds.

- Council set a June 3 follow‑up session to finalize priorities after the staff updates and to prepare the public hearing packet.

Ending

Councilors emphasized safety and practical sequencing: projects that remove immediate hazards or resolve infrastructure failures should receive the highest priority, with larger, discretionary upgrades scheduled after the stormwater and parks plans are complete.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Town Council Work Meeting 5 -14- 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Virgin — The council’s May 14 budget work session turned to capital projects, where staff presented a five‑year plan that would spread road maintenance, stormwater, water and parks projects over multiple years.","taxTitle","Virgin , Washington County, Utah","taxId",7486,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6634197,"Virgin council reviews preliminary FY2025 budget; staff to supply updated figures ahead of public hearing",550,3760,554380,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3353097-99555c0ceeeb11e1df80971312416fa4&start=3&end=554","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3353097-99555c0ceeeb11e1df80971312416fa4/thumbnail_3760.jpg","/articles/6634197/Virgin/Washington-County/Utah/Virgin-council-reviews-preliminary-FY2025-budget-staff-to-supply-updated-figures-ahead-of-public-hearing","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6634197-aa49d26286c86f8d948b098c028019ea/orig.mp4?Expires=1770982585&Signature=Seiplz~04PGCw~-c8oKU7r6oLCrPKtjN0xr6wB6X6xfEu3X3RG8jDKDhfRR9kKwAJqSKORkfFLOh3mV8iHZnypGuiPVY26NTdqCiBP86IPHY13D16U-LuEJNGrRQqXPs3dAsRHHJBwOIWeDxxehUr0CJ5z4sEi4JquS3Xk8eWPT~5ke2UXIzc-1o7ficKICXtm9yZkivFdrGvR4PxmpYOprqOoy-zaWzhuUvUKe3fG2qobz8l12w~P9yf928MXj39vto0KBKvbhCjMtAJatjVdPIjWzYTP0wqCQpC8LG0K1t6tma4xNGjU0I6F-oB44CBem6yNkF6Q3bF7rv54yuFQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Virgin — The Virgin Town Council met in a work session May 14 to review the proposed fiscal-year 2025 budget and asked staff to prepare an updated package for the public hearing and a follow-up budget meeting.

Council members and staff said the draft shows only a small increase in recurring revenue — about $64,000 — once one‑time loan proceeds and some grants are excluded. At the same time, payroll and other base expenses are rising, producing a tighter operating picture than in previous years.

Why it matters: Resort‑area taxes (transient lodging/“resort” tax) account for a large share of the town’s revenue. Councilors stressed that growth in permanent housing or large subdivisions can alter the town’s classification and reduce or eliminate the resort tax, creating a trade‑off between new housing and the sales-type revenues that support infrastructure and operations.

Most important facts

- Draft recurring revenue (excluding one‑time loan proceeds and some grants) was shown as about $64,000 higher than current-year receipts; staff and council described that as a conservative estimate and said recent business openings — including a small hotel/“The Riv,” a KOA campground and at least one new gas station — are likely to add receipts that are not yet reflected in the posted numbers.

- Payroll is a major driver of the draft increase; staff described roughly $167,000 in total payroll increases embedded in the proposed budget. The draft includes raises that would take effect July 1 and conversions of part‑time roles to full time in several cases.

- Grants and loan proceeds remain only partially coded in the posted draft. Councilors asked staff to reconcile handwritten budget notes from a March meeting with the formal spreadsheet and said the office will post an updated budget before the upcoming public hearing.

Grants and one‑time money

Council members emphasized that several grants and loans must be tracked carefully and reflected in the budget before the hearing. Staff reported a recently awarded BMX‑track grant (discussed later in the meeting) and a loan tied to a groundwater protection study; both will affect capital and operating lines when staff posts the corrected numbers.

Next steps and deadlines

- Staff agreed to deliver an updated draft to councilors and to post corrected materials for the public hearing. At the meeting staff said they would scan their notes and request the accounting vendor make the corrections, aiming to have a revised packet available by the next council meeting.

- Council scheduled a follow‑up budget session for June 3 (afternoon) to finalize capital‑improvement priorities and to prepare for the formal public hearing.

Context and background

Councilors spent much of the session discussing how to balance long‑term infrastructure needs and the town’s revenue mix. They repeatedly returned to the resort‑tax issue: if the ratio of permanent residences to transient lodging shifts enough, the town could lose resort‑tax classification and the revenue it supplies. Several councilors said future councils and town managers should keep that risk in mind when reviewing zoning, subdivision approvals and housing projects.

Ending

Councilors directed staff to reconcile the draft spreadsheet, identify where grant and loan codes should be recorded, and return with corrected financial statements for the next meeting so the public hearing packet reflects accurate totals.","Virgin — The Virgin Town Council met in a work session May 14 to review the proposed fiscal‑year 2025 budget and asked staff to prepare an updated package for the public hearing and a follow‑up budget meeting.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6634183,"Council identifies BMX grant and groundwater loan in draft budget; staff to confirm townhall loan payoff details",1646,1757590,3404420,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3353097-99555c0ceeeb11e1df80971312416fa4&start=1757&end=3404","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3353097-99555c0ceeeb11e1df80971312416fa4/thumbnail_1757590.jpg","/articles/6634183/Virgin/Washington-County/Utah/Council-identifies-BMX-grant-and-groundwater-loan-in-draft-budget-staff-to-confirm-townhall-loan-payoff-details","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6634183-9d71e782959228b9a9a0d0bc1cdc53fc/orig.mp4?Expires=1770982585&Signature=IWpy0UIoyJBVG0JARNC90ROXRdROOwHvLG3pGP9dzWdLdkZTjfTKTYP5Uq~n3M5NnK61ceRPj~m-c0wub4oM5rcZQCrUdLS~Huiuj0-pu6OeRvJ0JyiNnXmFyjta1HQcrffPKFexBEBGtCI4vweNJrkYwAyvyOjPNAngTxoNLDr88QEf~R8DhEr6mExPjcva-28i0rhrQlDCUm5fcsiKRK3lqDWmilF7ZdYYodaafjSaC-sIwN~kZMzeH0~d~VO~1XYsifcbz6zE5V5x6kF~lC64Tk6fIoWmfHtnhTdoxzs98uZfHNjrsme-~vS2Ey2K1LDdugiLDR37DjwJrUax3A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Virgin — During the May 14 work session, councilors walked through grant and loan items that remain incompletely coded in the posted budget and asked staff for clarity ahead of the public hearing.

Grants and matching requirements

Staff reported the town had received a competitive grant for a BMX track (the amount discussed in the session was $53,000) and that the town must provide a local match; councilors agreed that the grant and matching expense must be added to the budget so the public packet reflects the total project cost.

Groundwater study loan

Staff identified a $60,000 loan line (coded in the draft as a loan proceeds account) tied to a groundwater protection study. At the meeting staff said the full project totals about $120,000; the town’s understanding is that the Water Conservancy District would cover roughly $40,000, the town would pay about $20,000, and the remaining $60,000 would be financed via the noted loan. Staff asked the council to confirm where the loan proceeds should be shown and to plan for eventual repayment when invoices arrive.

Town hall / Townsquare loan and payoff discussion

Councilors discussed the long‑term loan connected to the purchase of the former church (Heritage Town Square/town hall). Staff said the annual payment to the bank is approximately $171,544 (principal plus interest) and asked for authorization to request a full payoff amount from the bank so the council can evaluate whether paying the loan early makes fiscal sense. Councilors noted the loan’s interest rate is low and that, if payoff strengthens the town’s overall borrowing capacity (by returning funds to the lender for re‑lending), the town should weigh that public benefit against the immediate use of general‑fund reserves.

State liquor allotment and accounting codes

During the budget review staff raised a question about the town’s state liquor distribution (a recurring allotment in some towns). Staff said the town receives something coded in their general ledger but that it is not showing up as a discrete revenue line in the community’s posted budget; they will seek guidance on state coding and distribution so that the revenue (or lack of a recurring distribution) is accurately presented.

Next steps

- Staff will post the BMX grant and matching expense and confirm where the groundwater loan proceeds should be coded.

- Staff will ask the bank for a loan payoff amount for the town hall loan and return to council with analysis of the fiscal impacts of payoff versus continuing scheduled payments.

Ending

Councilors reiterated the need for all grants and loans to be clearly coded and explained in the budget packet so the public hearing reflects accurate project totals and repayment obligations.","Councilors said a recent $53,000 BMX grant and a $60,000 loan for a groundwater protection study must be reflected in the budget; they also discussed the state bank loan for the town hall (previously the church), with an annual payment of roughly $171,544 and asked staff to analyze payoff options.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6634192,"Council flags large payroll increases, considers moving a contractor to employee and raising inspection fees",914,2111270,3026040,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3353097-99555c0ceeeb11e1df80971312416fa4&start=2111&end=3026","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3353097-99555c0ceeeb11e1df80971312416fa4/thumbnail_2111270.jpg","/articles/6634192/Virgin/Washington-County/Utah/Council-flags-large-payroll-increases-considers-moving-a-contractor-to-employee-and-raising-inspection-fees","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6634192-81dc6f305b572ce8575024dbeb07be0c/orig.mp4?Expires=1770982585&Signature=QW2I6MKYmy-tYBb7DIG7dOSMonRY~KZn4rwF-sw8MkmbNQaoLgd8gFwnccJJMzkdo2yPvgf7TJliOoMWXf-zgJQ12rMrcku~-K~BUdWrky32a2PBSWGFdlOzbX0rLf9uIoqWIHjVKFfvDjyFJ6AaC6rr~ETRLU9af8KNqb~HqyEGnWQPtVZrCaFOJiBSo4FKWdgytwSgAqyVNWUecbI2oeiXFXkIiSo558sC78waS3trVqpn-E3vSRpyHyJg0JUO~4mk11UUFVkvtOkZ3G0S2QRNV1zVatai7RPYl48mNDrgWQRIuY9NGaBWFV98p2ZHI~8shNrZY9LA1Zs53yqFXQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Virgin — At the May 14 work meeting, Virgin officials focused on personnel costs in the proposed FY2025 budget and on fees that offset inspection and permitting costs.

Council and staff said the draft includes roughly $167,000 in payroll increases for the coming fiscal year. Those increases reflect raises approved this year, the conversion of some part‑time positions to full time (staff cited a recent example where an employee moved from part‑time to full‑time), and projected full‑year costs for staff who started mid‑year.

Staffing and contractor conversions

Councilors discussed converting a long‑term contractor into a town employee. A staff member raised the idea of making the contractor (named in meeting notes as Jean Garotte) a direct town employee to simplify supervision and benefits; Jean reportedly said he would not object to the change. Councilors asked the incoming town manager to work with the affected staff and to consider a September budget amendment if a hire or pay change occurs mid‑year.

Building inspection and permit fees

The council also reviewed inspection fees. Council staff reported the town currently pays a local building inspector $25 per inspection and that the inspector had indicated that rate was no longer sustainable. Councilors asked staff to research comparable fees (one citation in the discussion suggested $35 per residential inspection as a local market rate) and to place “raising fees” on the agenda for the next regular council meeting so the council can consider an ordinance or fee schedule change.

Budget impact and next steps

- Payroll baseline: staff said the current budget year line for payroll is about $453,400 (figures in the draft are approximate and staff committed to supplying exact line‑by‑line current totals when they post the updated packet).

- Council directed staff to research inspection and permitting fees, present comparative rates and recommend fee schedule changes so the town can recoup inspection costs via permit receipts rather than general fund allocations.

Ending

The council placed a fee‑increase discussion on an upcoming meeting agenda and asked staff to include any recommended changes in the revised budget materials to be posted before the public hearing.","Councilors reviewed payroll lines and discussed converting long‑term contractors to employees, the effect on benefits and payroll totals, and pushed to research higher building‑inspection fees to reflect market rates. An agenda item on raising fees will appear at next week's council meeting.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council weighs $400K‑a‑year chip‑seal plan and prioritizes water connections, moves some park projects to year two

Virgin council reviews preliminary FY2025 budget; staff to supply updated figures ahead of public hearing

Council identifies BMX grant and groundwater loan in draft budget; staff to confirm townhall loan payoff details

Council flags large payroll increases, considers moving a contractor to employee and raising inspection fees