Auditing Sandy
The Ledger's review of Sandy's budgets, audits, debt, redevelopment money and officials' disclosures. Every story in the series, sorted by subject, with the figures the records show and links to the official documents.
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Auditing Sandy: what public records show about the city's finances
The Ledger is reviewing Sandy City's budgets, audits, debt, redevelopment areas and council votes, stating only what the records say. Here is the series and what the records cover.
Read the explainer →Key figures
- $10.17 millionSandy general fund balance, June 30, 2025Sandy's FY2025 audit: clean opinion, a material weakness in year-end reporting and a restated general fund →
- $1.34 millionRestatement adjustment to Sandy's general fund opening balance, July 1, 2024Sandy's FY2025 audit: clean opinion, a material weakness in year-end reporting and a restated general fund →
- $112.8 millionSandy total long-term obligations, June 30, 2025Sandy listed $112.8 million in long-term obligations at June 30, 2025, down 5 percent →
- $30 millionCrescent View general obligation bond ceiling on the Nov. 3, 2026 ballot: a single authorization limit, not debt issuedSandy council set the Crescent View bond ceiling at $30 million on a third vote; election is Nov. 3 →
- $9.49 millionSandy's general fund balance at June 30, 2024, as originally reported; restated to $10.83 million in the FY2025 reportSandy's FY2024 audit: clean opinion, $9.49 million general fund balance, $45.8 million in redevelopment fund →
- $45.8 millionRedevelopment Agency fund balance, June 30, 2024Sandy's FY2024 audit: clean opinion, $9.49 million general fund balance, $45.8 million in redevelopment fund →
- $118.7 millionTotal long-term obligations at June 30, 2024 (prior year)Sandy's long-term debt stood at $118.7 million at June 30, 2024, up 20.8% →
- $6.84 millionTax increment entitled across six areas, tax year 2025Sandy's six redevelopment areas had $6.84 million in tax increment entitlements for tax year 2025 →
- $93,100Water capital outlay in the line-item veto overridden July 7, 2026Sandy council overrode a budget line-item veto in July 2026; 2020 and 2022 budget votes are also on record →
Debt and bonds
Sandy council set the Crescent View bond ceiling at $30 million on a third vote; election is Nov. 3
On Aug. 11, 2026, motions for a $30 million and a $21 million ballot amount each failed 3-4 before the council adopted the $30 million resolution 6-1 on reconsideration. At the Sept. 22 hearing, the finance director projected about $5 a month for the average home.
Sandy listed $112.8 million in long-term obligations at June 30, 2025, down 5 percent
Sandy's FY2025 audited report lists $112,760,737 in long-term obligations, down $5,946,965 from a year earlier. In December 2025, council minutes recorded that Hale Centre Theatre was paying off its bond obligation early.
Sandy's long-term debt stood at $118.7 million at June 30, 2024, up 20.8%
Sandy's audited report counts $118,707,701 in long-term obligations for FY2024, after a $19.3 million fire station bond and an $8.645 million Monroe Street bond.
Sandy sets a bond election for up to $30 million for the former Crescent View school site
A 2026 resolution calls an election on general obligation bonds of not more than $30,000,000, backed by property taxes, for the former Crescent View Middle School property.
Redevelopment money
Sandy's six redevelopment areas had $6.84 million in tax increment entitlements for tax year 2025
The Salt Lake County Auditor's tax year 2025 report lists six Sandy project areas. Civic Center North accounts for $3,443,642 of the $6,836,539 total.
Budgets, reserves and taxes
Sandy council overrode a budget line-item veto in July 2026; 2020 and 2022 budget votes are also on record
On July 7, 2026 the council voted 5-1-1 to override a veto of a $93,100 water capital appropriation. Minutes also record a 4-3 budget adoption and veto notice in 2020 and a 2022 tax decision.
Contracts and spending
No story in the series on this yet.
Audits and compliance
Sandy's FY2025 audit: clean opinion, a material weakness in year-end reporting and a restated general fund
Eide Bailly gave Sandy an unmodified opinion for the year ended June 30, 2025, but reported a material weakness tied to audit adjustments and a prior-year restatement, and a Recreation Fund that spent about $5,000 more than its final budget. The general fund's opening balance was restated upward by $1,339,323.
Sandy's FY2024 audit: clean opinion, $9.49 million general fund balance, $45.8 million in redevelopment fund
Eide Bailly gave Sandy City an unmodified opinion on its fiscal year ended June 30, 2024. The general fund ended at $9,493,192 as originally reported, later restated to $10,832,515, and the redevelopment agency fund at $45,798,200.
Other findings
Council minutes from 2020 and 2021 track Sandy's fluoride overfeed incident
Sandy City Council minutes record briefings on the fluoride overfeed incident on March 3 and Aug. 18, 2020, and a final update on June 22, 2021.