Auditing Magna
The Ledger's review of Magna's budgets, audits, debt and redevelopment money.
The full audit section: stories by subject, key figures and records →
Background
Auditing Magna: what public records show about the city's finances
The Ledger is starting a review of Magna's audits, budgets, redevelopment money and council actions, reporting only what the records say. Magna's finances are reported inside the Greater Salt Lake Municipal Services District's statements; here is the baseline and what the series covers.
Read the explainer →Latest update · October 16, 2026
Magna referred allegations about its mayor to the attorney general and the ethics commission, the city said
An investigator hired by the city found Mayor Mick Sudbury exercised improper authority and retaliated against a witness, FOX 13 reported in September. Sudbury denied retaliation. No public decision on the referrals had been reported as of Oct. 16.
Timeline
- Magna referred allegations about its mayor to the attorney general and the ethics commission, the city said
- Magna redevelopment fund records $95,055 Main Street landscaping charge against a $50,000 budget
- Draft district audit adds $34.6 million in previously unrecorded assets to Magna's books
- Magna council asked to co-sign $9.26 million federal road agreement that leaves overruns to local agencies
- Magna's 2027 budget papers show two totals, and its August report a $90,000 gap
Latest updates
- Politics
Magna referred allegations about its mayor to the attorney general and the ethics commission, the city said
An investigator hired by the city found Mayor Mick Sudbury exercised improper authority and retaliated against a witness, FOX 13 reported in September. Sudbury denied retaliation. No public decision on the referrals had been reported as of Oct. 16.
- Politics
Magna redevelopment fund records $95,055 Main Street landscaping charge against a $50,000 budget
Magna's financial report for July and August 2026 shows $98,100.02 charged to the redevelopment agency's "CRA Distribution" account, a line with no budget in fiscal 2027. Most of it is one Main Street landscaping invoice.
- Politics
Draft district audit adds $34.6 million in previously unrecorded assets to Magna's books
Draft fiscal 2025 statements for the Greater Salt Lake Municipal Services District correct Magna's opening net position upward by $34,565,111 for capital assets that had not been recorded. The draft compliance reports list a material weakness in asset tracking.
- Politics
Magna council asked to co-sign $9.26 million federal road agreement that leaves overruns to local agencies
A resolution on Magna's Oct. 13 agenda would add the city to a UDOT agreement for the 2810 South at 8000 West realignment. The posted modification lists a $9,262,264 project value and says the local agency pays all overruns and ineligible costs.
- Politics
Magna's 2027 budget papers show two totals, and its August report a $90,000 gap
Magna's June budget schedules list Fund 60 at $16,377,237 and an updated $14,513,185. The city's August financial report keeps $14,513,185 in revenue but shows $14,603,185 in budgeted spending, with a larger special-events line.