|
TO: |
Transit Commission |
|
THROUGH: |
Jay Fox, Executive Director |
|
FROM: |
Viola Miller, Chief Financial Officer |
|
PRESENTER(S): |
Viola Miller, Chief Financial Officer |
|
|
|
TITLE:
title
Final 2027 Budget and Public Engagement Report Review
end
AGENDA ITEM TYPE:
Discussion
RECOMMENDATION:
Review the 2027 Final Budget and results of the public budget comment process
BACKGROUND:
Each year the Authority is required to prepare an operating and capital budget for the succeeding year in accordance with the provisions of the Special Districts Act (§17B-1-702), and the Public Transit District Act (§17B-2a-8).
The Executive Director presented the 2027 Tentative Budget for the Transit Commission’s review on September 23, 2026 and began the public comment period which concluded on October 26, 2026. On October 26, 2026 the Transit Commission held a budget hearing to receive stakeholder and public feedback on the proposed 2027 budget. As discussed in previous presentations, the budget in question is a six-month partial budget as the agency moves to a July 1-June 30 fiscal year beginning on July 1, 2027.
DISCUSSION:
Over the first half of 2026, UTA staff reviewed 2026 program delivery, current operating environment including economic conditions, revenue projections, and the organization’s strategic plan to support near and long-term public transportation needs in the region.
Using the existing operating budget for 2026 as a starting point, the organization updated inflationary assumptions for labor, fuel and other expenses, eliminated one-time 2026 costs, and annualized the cost of mid-year budget adjustments (including April 2026 service changes and technical budget adjustments). The resulting 2027 base budget was developed at the department expenditure level.
Simultaneously, the capital program development process reviewed the existing Capital budget, and prioritized select projects for the 2027 Capital budget.
Staff will present an overview of the proposed Final 2027 Budget and requests that the Commission review the budget as presented. Stakeholder and public feedback will also be reviewed during the meeting. The 2027 Budget will then be prepared for the Commission’s consideration and adoption in December.
Summary information about the 2027 Final Budget is provided in the attachments. Additional detail, on the ten-year plan (as required) will be provided in the budget documentation that will be included in the agenda packet for the Commission’s November 18, 2026, meeting for discussion.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The proposed 2027 Final Budget is financially constrained with all required reserves fully funded.
ATTACHMENTS:
• 2027 Exhibits
o Exhibit A
o Exhibit A-1
o Exhibit A-2
o Exhibit B
o Exhibit B-1
o Operating Budget Year-Over-Year Supplemental View
o Capital Budget Year-Over-Year Supplemental View
o 2027 Budget 10-Year Forecast
• 2027 Tentative Budget Public Engagement Report