Three Draper redevelopment areas that have stopped collecting reported $8 million in unaudited balances

Three Draper redevelopment project areas that no longer receive new tax increment still held about $8 million at the end of June, according to the redevelopment agency's 2026 annual report. The agency adopted the report on Aug. 18, 2026. ^[1][2]

The three areas

The "Annual CRA Report 2026," prepared by LRB Public Finance Advisors and dated June 30, 2026, says the East Bangerter area "has an un-audited fund balance as of June 30th, 2026, of $4,438,827." It lists intended uses of $3,281,527 for future housing agreements, $632,300 for the 13800 South and Bangerter Highway intersection, $450,000 for a traffic signal at 300 East and 13800 South, and $75,000 for consulting fees. The report lists East Bangerter as a historic project that has not yet been dissolved. ^[1]

The report says the Sand Hills area reached the end of its collection period and "expired at the conclusion of Fiscal Year 2025." It reports an unaudited balance of $3,409,491 and intended uses of $838,500 for reconstructing 1300 East and Draper Parkway and $75,000 for consulting fees. It says the remaining funds are intended for development agreements and infrastructure projects. ^[1]

The report says the West Freeway area has expired and has an unaudited balance of $175,574. It says the agency intends to dissolve the area once its funds are spent and states the same intent for Sand Hills. ^[1]

The three balances add up to $8,023,892. The report lists the Gateway area as dissolved on Oct. 21, 2025, with a $0 balance. ^[1]

What was said on Aug. 18

At the council's study session that evening, Burningham reviewed the city's six active project areas and said their combined fund balances were almost $31 million, according to the approved council minutes. The minutes say he told the council that Sand Hills, East Bangerter and West Freeway "only had two years remaining to expend funds or commit funds before money would be lost." ^[3]

At the agency meeting later that evening, the minutes say Burningham asked board members to consider objectives for using the balances in the three areas. Boardmember Kathryn Dahlin referred to a proposed development in East Bangerter and suggested the fund balance could fund infrastructure needs. Boardmember Fred Lowry said other areas should be explored, citing undeveloped property near the Pluralsight area and a possible museum. ^[2]

Boardmember Mike Green moved to adopt Resolution CRA 26-04 and Boardmember Johnson seconded. The minutes record that the motion "passed by majority vote," and the roll-call table shows Green, Johnson, Fred Lowry and Kathryn Dahlin voting yes and Tasha Lowery voting no, which makes 4-1. The row for Chair Troy Walker has no mark, and the Ledger does not read it as a vote, an abstention or an absence. The minutes give no reason for the no vote. The document's footer says it was approved by the Draper City Council on Sept. 1, 2026. ^[2]

The report itself does not set a specific deadline for spending or committing the remaining funds. ^[1]

Update, Oct. 17, 2026: the state law and the agency's next meeting

S.B. 228, the Community Reinvestment Agency Amendments sponsored by Sen. Wayne A. Harper and Rep. R. Neil Walter, passed the Senate 25–0 and the House 58–1 in the 2026 session. ^[4]

The law defines the dormancy period as ending six months after a project area's funds collection period ends, and says a project area dissolves when its dormancy period ends. An agency may extend the dormancy period once, for up to two years, after a hearing and with a resolution and an ordinance. ^[4]

It also says "an agency with project area funds remaining at the end of the dormancy period shall return a proportionate share of the unexpended funds to each taxing entity." A project area that allocated funds and began a dormancy period before May 6, 2026, "shall: (a) be dissolved five years after the day on which the project area began the dormancy period; and (b) distribute any unexpended funds" the same way. ^[4]

The bill removed the earlier rule, under which the dormancy period ended five years after the funds collection period ended or five years after the section took effect, whichever was later. ^[4]

Neither the annual report nor the minutes say which of these provisions Draper applies to East Bangerter, Sand Hills or West Freeway. ^[1][2]

The agency's Sept. 1, 2026 agenda had one action item besides minutes: Resolution CRA 26-05, a participation agreement with Nexcore Healthcare Development LLC for a medical office building at 11925 S. State St. in the Crescent Redevelopment District, not one of the three areas. The Ledger found no later agency agenda that takes up the three areas' balances. ^[5]