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We make podcasts and newsletters that connect people with the cities they love.

City Cast Salt Lake

Ali Vallarta

The Utah Legislature is in its interim session, which means they’re already working on ideas for next year. And this month, 

, the lobbying group behind free period products in public schools, hosted a policy pitch competition to source ideas for making our state better and more affordable.

Of 115 submissions, I was delighted to see that all three winners shared ideas we’ve talked about on episodes of our 

🥇“The Utah Rehabilitation, Compliance, and Fair Collections Act”

Utah State University grad student Melaine Webster presented an idea to reform Utah’s criminal debt collection system. People leaving our justice system often see fines and fees piling up faster than they can keep up with, 

 as the debt becomes a barrier to housing and employment.

4 ideas to fund instead of more jail beds

Tax Increment Financing (TIF) is when funds are drawn away from a taxing entity (such as the library or school district) to fund development projects. For example, the SLC School District lost 

 to TIF. SLC School Board member Ashley Anderson’s proposal would give the district more representation in these decisions.

The millions SLC schools lost to developers

🥉“The Utah Family Financial Protection Act”

I’ll never forget where I was when I learned that women (especially single mothers) are more likely to 

. Sophia Strong’s proposal would cap payday loan interest rates at 36% in Utah. Right now, they 

Why two local banks ended up on a watchlist

What’s your dream policy pitch to the Utah Legislature? Maybe we can look into it.

Utahns pitched their policy ideas to make the state more affordable. 

Utahns pitch policy ideas to make the state more affordable

A Competition to Make Utah Better

Local Civics

What's being decided in Salt Lake City Hall and why it matters. We monitor local elections, political news, and Salt Lake City Council. 

Salt Lake Election and City Hall News

On Tuesday evening, SLC Mayor Erin Mendenhall proposed a 

 to the City Council. It includes more $$ for policing, the city’s Westside, and pedestrian safety. While it actually costs ~$2 billion to run our city, the General Fund is the portion of the budget funded by residents (think: property tax, sales tax, fines).

Citing a volatile stock market, tariffs, and decreasing consumer sentiment, the mayor called this year’s budget “nearly entirely flat” aka just the basics. So why is it up 6.7% from last year? “This increase is driven almost entirely by inflation and the rising cost of maintaining the services and infrastructure we already have,” says the mayor.

Rates are going up for water (about $10/month for low water users) and waste & recycling (about $3/month for residential bins). Expect property taxes to go up next budget season.

: New police, fire, and street maintenance vehicles

: Phase one of The Green Loop, the block right outside City Hall

: Vision Zero safety improvements to three major streets: Redwood Road, 900 West, and 800 South

: More electric vehicle charging stations

: Overnight security at several city parks

Renovating the Fisher Mansion and finding new tenants

: Starter funds for the 2034 Winter Olympic Games

 Utah Transit Authority’s On Demand service

The SLC Council has until June 30 to vote on a final budget. Until then, they’re taking feedback from residents.

📞 Leave a voice message at (801) 535-7654.

 on Tuesday, May 20 or Tuesday, June 3 at 7 p.m.

elections

A Competition to Make Utah Better

Salt Lake City's $512 Million Budget Proposal

Latest articles

A Competition to Make Utah Better

Salt Lake City's $512 Million Budget Proposal