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Brigham City in good shape to
endure recession, mayor says
By Rebecca
Hansen
February 16, 2009 | BRIGHAM CITY -- Mayor Lou Ann Christensen
says Brigham City is prepared to endure the economic
difficulties ahead, thanks to the foresight of past
mayors and the frugal spending by the city.
In a "State of the City" address at Thursday's council
meeting, Christensen highlighted some of the setbacks
and strategies Brigham City is working with in order
to continue down a path of growth and prosperity.
During the past three years the mayor and the city
council have worked to keep budgets flat and have been
very economic with the city's spending, which "has paid
the city back with less risk during economic downturns,"
Christensen said.
Christensen said the focus for the city is on economic
development in order to bring higher paying jobs to
the area. This boosts spending on goods and services
and increases sales taxes revenue. Sales tax accounts
for 25 percent of the city's general fund revenues,
while property tax only accounts for 6 percent, she
said.
"This high percentage demonstrates why we have placed
such an important emphasis on strengthening our local
businesses through both business retention and recruitment,"
she said.
Christensen said thanks to former mayors Ruel Eskelsen,
Peter Knudson and Clark Davis building a reservoir,
a waste treatment plant and culinary water storage,
respectively, Brigham City was well prepared to welcome
new business to the area.
"These forward thinking mayors and city councils ten,
thirty and fifty years ago, opened the door for Procter
and Gamble choosing to come to Box Elder County." Christensen
said.
In addition to new business being attracted to the
area, Christensen said the city is scheduled to obtain
more than $45.4 million in federal grants to fund several
city projects. Among the projects are seismic upgrades
to the city library and the repairing of West Forest
Street.
"I am pleased to inform all our citizens that, due
to conservative budget oversight, Brigham City is prepared
to weather this storm." Christensen said.
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