TC Special Meeting Work Session for the 2026 2027 PreBudget Review
Notice Type(s)
Notice,
Meeting
Event Start Date & Time
May 6, 2026 05:00 PM
Description/Agenda
The Town of Mantua Council Meeting Minutes
Special Meeting Work Session for the 2026-2027 Pre-Budget Review
For May 6th, 2026
Location: Town Hall, 409 North Main, Mantua, Utah
Council Members Present: Mayor Annette Ash, Mayor Pro Tempore Matt Jeppsen, Council Member Cheryl Burgan, Council Member Scott Ross, Council Member Henry Dovey
Recorder: Sherita Schaefer
Audience Present: Marcus Abel, Ronald Wallace, John Hurd, Pam Eaves, Kevin Nelson
The meeting was opened by Mayor Annette Ash
FISCAL YEAR 2026-2027 PRE-BUDGET
Led by the Financial Clerk, Ronald Wallace
Overview
Finance Manager Wallace opened the presentation on the Fiscal Year 2026-2027 pre-budget overview by outlining preliminary revenue projections, which target an estimated total revenue of approximately $1,600,000. Within this projection, core taxes are estimated at $692,720, though the exact property tax revenue and certified tax rate will not be finalized until early June. Cemetery plot sales have been adjusted downward to $16,250 due to an active plot moratorium and dwindling inventory. Regarding cell tower rents, active leases continue with SBA, Crown Castle, and Singular Cellular; however, a prospective contract with Verizon currently in the preliminary design phases for a new tower was omitted from current projections until finalized, despite an anticipated $24,000 in annual revenue. Total grants and allotments reached $1,584,740, heavily driven by $499,972 in CARES/COVID funds being recognized in its final year alongside a $230,740 Main Street Road fund allotment from the State. Standard guaranteed grants sit much lower at $65,740, and a State GIS database grant of $9,083 will eventually require a 30% town match of roughly $4,000.
Budget Compliance
During the budget compliance and red flags review, Wallace reported that the city is tracking a projected $134,000 to $135,000 deficit for the upcoming fiscal year. Mayor Pro Tempore Jeppsen highlighted a significant structural concern regarding administrative and police overhead, noting that their combined budgets total nearly $800,000, which completely outstrips the town's core tax revenue. Statutory restricted funds accumulation presents another compliance challenge, as the state auditor has cited the town two years in a row for maintaining a balance exceeding $175,000 in restricted capital and B&C road funds. To satisfy state limits on these reserves, the finance manager must strategically shift eligible infrastructure expenses out of the general fund and onto these restricted accounts to draw down the balance.
Council Member Department Oversight & 2026-2027 Projections
Mayor Annette Ash: Staff and Administration
The mayor proposed a 12% wage increase for Ronald Wallace and Marcus Abel, to transition them to non-exempt salaried positions**, noting that Ron had calculated a 4% COLA baseline. Wallace also indicated he had reduced his overtime projection to offset the cost of this reclassification. She also proposed moving employee Eric Waters from $26+/hr. to $28/hr.
Mayor Pro Tempore Matt Jeppsen: Sewer, Roads, and Fire Department
Mayor Pro Tempore Jeppsen provided updates on the sewer, roads, and fire department, noting that current year B&C road maintenance expenses are tracking low at $95,000 to $100,000 against a $122,000 budget due to a mild winter requiring less plowing. However, the cost estimate for the Main Street reconstruction has escalated to $1,990,000 due to surging oil and asphalt costs. Within fire services, a $20,000 matching fund allocation was verified for the purchase of a new fire department vehicle.
Council Member Scott Ross: Water, Building, Planning, and Zoning
Council Member Ross reported on water, building, planning, and zoning, noting that subdivisions and zoning administration revenues have flatlined at $0 for the current period. Consequently, a conservative placeholder of $2,500 was set for the upcoming year to account for potential line adjustments or minor subdivisions. Water studies are currently ongoing, and while line-item costs remain stable, they will continue to be audited for efficiency.
Council Member Cheryl Burgan: Events, Parks, EMS, and Emergency Management
Council Member Burgan addressed events, parks, EMS, and emergency management by proposing to cap all upcoming park improvements strictly to the projected $30,000 in incoming impact fees. This revenue would be split equally at $10,000 each among Maple Springs Park, Daines Park, and Main Street Park. Because major equipment outlays are near completion, future allocations will focus exclusively on basic upkeep, broken part replacement, and neighbor fencing requests. Under EMS, concerns were raised regarding emergency response delays from the county, which underscores the necessity of maintaining a proactive local public safety presence.
Council Member Henry Dovey: Cell Towers, Cemetery, Waste Disposal, and Utilities
Council Member Dovey discussed cell towers, the cemetery, waste disposal, and utilities. He confirmed that $15,000 out of capital assets is currently earmarked for designated cemetery improvements. He also reported on recent site consultations conducted alongside Public Works Director Marcus Abel and Verizon engineers regarding orientation drawings to ensure the new cell site prevents interference with existing infrastructure.
Council Discussion & Strategic Planning
Deliberation on Budget Priorities
Regarding public safety and law enforcement restructuring, looking at the long-term viability of the Mantua Police Department in light of a 23% decline in overall call volumes, which dropped from 4,055 calls in 2023 to 3,115 in 2025. Three strategic frameworks were debated to address the overhead. The first option involves internal reductions, which would mean Chief Midkiff's requested staffing structure, cutting auxiliary officer proposals by $5,000, and eliminating a code enforcement officer proposal to save an additional $10,000, though it was noted the town must legally hold a Sergeant position until October for an officer currently on leave. The second option is downsizing to a traditional small-town framework, which would revert the fleet and department back to a single full-time officer supplemented by part-time hours, prioritizing inner-city coverage over highway enforcement. The final option considered was total dissolution and county contracting. While emergency responses are provided by the County Sheriff by law at no extra cost, contracting dedicated proactive patrol hours would run for about $92/hour, and projections indicate the town would require roughly 500 hours annually, or about a quarter of a full-time position.
The strategic planning session also included a discussion on justice court and fines and forfeitures realignment. Council Member Burgan and Judge Kevin Nelson clarified that the city can legally keep its Justice Court even if the local police department is dissolved. Judge Nelson discussed how citations issued within Mantua's jurisdiction may continue to be processed through the Justice Court even if the Town contracts for law enforcement services.
Discussion on 'Truth in Taxation' Timelines
No formal rate adjustments were set during this session; timelines and potential modifications will be reviewed once final certified tax rates are officially delivered by the state in early June.
Public Comment & Consultation Review
No formal public comments were made during the work session.
Adjournment
Council Member Ross made a motion to adjourn the May 6, 2026, special working session of the Mantua Town Council. Mayor Ash seconded the motion.
Yes Votes: Mayor Annette Ash, Matt Jeppsen, Scott Ross, Cheryl Burgan, Henry Dovey
No Votes: None
Abstained: None
Absent: None
MOTION PASSED.
Notice of Special Accommodations (ADA)
In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, persons needing auxiliary communicative aids and services for this meeting should contact the Management Services Department at 629-8701 (TTY/TDD: 711 or 888-735-5906) or by emailing town recorder at sschaefer@mantuautah.gov at least 48 hours in advance of the meeting.
Notice of Electronic or Telephone Participation
Public meetings may be held electronically in accordance with Utah Code Annotated 52-4-207 to allow Council members to participate via teleconference. The anchor location for the meeting shall be held at the Mantua Town Hall 409 North Main St, Mantua Utah 84324
Other Information
Certificate of Posting
The foregoing agenda was (1) posted on the Utah Public Notice Website created under Utah Code Section 63F1-701. (2) Town of Mantua website, and (3) posted in Town of Mantua City Office on 6/22/2026 by Sherita Schaefer - Town Recorder