Your Daily Guide

Salt Lake City wants more housing, but building it is about to get more expensive. On Tuesday, the City Council unanimously approved raising utility impact fees on new construction for the first time since 1999, hoping to shift infrastructure costs to developers instead of residents. But who’s actually footing the bill?

• By the numbers: Fees for developers will increase in phases through mid-2028, with a typical new single-family home jumping from $2,790 to $11,870. The hikes are expected to bring nearly $15 million more annually for the city’s water, sewer, and stormwater funds. But City officials say that won’t prevent future utility rate hikes on residents. [Salt Lake Tribune]
• The city’s debt dilemma: A September state audit warned that Salt Lake City’s current utility rates won’t cover payments on roughly $600 million in infrastructure debt. City officials are exploring alternative funding sources and developing a new financial plan by next summer. [Salt Lake Tribune]
• And aging pipes can’t wait. An August water main break in Poplar Grove damaged 15 homes and displaced families. A neighborhood representative pointed to the flooding as evidence that Salt Lake City can’t keep putting off infrastructure investments. [City Weekly]
• Residents are already feeling the squeeze. Monthly utility bills increased this summer and a new billing system for apartment buildings is giving some renters sticker shock, charging a monthly fee for sewer service instead of calculating by usage. And with developers likely to pass at least some of the higher fees on to future homebuyers and renters, housing costs could climb even further. [FOX 13, Salt Lake Tribune]

Tropical Storm Headed Our Way

Enjoy the sunshine while it lasts, because Utah is in for a soggy stretch starting Saturday. The remnants of Tropical Storm Rachel (which was previously Hurricane Rachel) could drop 1-3 inches of rain across much of the state through Wednesday. [KUTV]

Utah Shelter Funding for Three Cities

Utah approved more than $1.8 million to help cover the costs of temporary winter homeless centers in Salt Lake City ($1.1 million), South Salt Lake ($378K) , and Ogden ($252K). But local leaders say the money falls short of what cities actually spend, and are hoping lawmakers will increase funding. [KSL]

Keeping Snow Under Wraps

Soldier Hollow is experimenting with a giant pile of snow under insulated blankets to see how much can survive Utah’s hot summers. If it works, the technique could help ensure there’s enough snow for the 2034 Winter Olympics, even as warmer winters make reliable snowfall harder to come by. [Salt Lake Tribune]

Utah’s Death Penalty Pivot

Our state once made headlines for its conservative-led movement to end the death penalty. What changed? [City Cast Salt Lake 🎧]