Mayor’s Message – May 2026
In April, I ride my bicycle across our great state of Utah to St. George to attend Utah League of Cities and Towns Conference. Along the way, I see different communities, meet people from all walks of life, and am reminded that progress doesn’t always come from staying on the same road. Although I have done this before, it is different each time. I plan for contingencies, yet something always happens that was not planned for. When that happens, I review my options, then adjust with the information at hand. As I learn more, my options may change. I often seek guidance from other people to help supply me with ideas to choose from.
That kind of perspective helped shape this year’s budget that has been presented to the city council. I am confident the council will take up this budget and improve it. When all of us (residents, staff, council, and mayor) work together, we accomplish great things!
The City of West Jordan is in a strong position because we’ve spent years planning carefully and staying disciplined. That steady approach continues this year. We’re keeping our revenue expectations realistic while making some adjustments that will help us avoid large jumps later. (Details of the property tax adjustment can be found in the proposed property tax impact schedule.)
We closely watch the trends that shape our budget. Trends like slower sales‑tax growth, and declining court revenues. These shifts are real, yet they’re manageable. Some things are not predictable. Exercising caution in previous years has placed us in a position that enables us to adjust to keeping resident services consistent and running smoothly. Staff and others to help supply us with ideas to choose from.
This budget continues to focus on the services residents use every day. Our priority is maintaining strong service levels and preserving quality of life. As our population grows, we need to look at adding some positions such as a park’s maintenance worker, a crossing‑guard supervisor, additional customer‑service representatives, and updating a few roles to better meet our community needs.
It is important for us to continue to invest in the infrastructure that keeps our city functioning, such as roads, water lines, sewer treatment, and stormwater improvements. These projects strengthen the backbone of our city and help reduce costly unplanned repairs in the future.
Although we will be seeing minor increases in sewer, solid waste, and streetlight fees this year, water and stormwater fees remain the same. These modest adjustments help us maintain essential services and keep our systems reliable while reducing larger, unpredictable increases in the future.
Water conservation is a key focus for our community, especially this year. We are keeping an eye on water use to help us plan wisely for the years ahead.
Like any good ride, this budget is about reading the road in front of us and making informed, steady choices. West Jordan is on a roll. Because of your help, West Jordan is stable, prepared, and moving forward with confidence.
Mayor Dirk Burton
