Auditing Nibley
The Ledger's review of Nibley's budgets, audits, debt and redevelopment money. 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 Nibley: what the city's audit and budget show
Nibley's auditors reported no findings for fiscal 2025, when its governmental funds held $13.6 million, most of it restricted or assigned. The adopted fiscal 2027 budget totals $27.6 million across all funds. This series follows the city's money through its public records.
Read the explainer →Key figures
- $27.6 millionNibley's fiscal 2027 budget, all fundsAuditing Nibley: what the city's audit and budget show →
- $13.6 millionGovernmental fund balances, June 30, 2025Auditing Nibley: what the city's audit and budget show →
- $75,000Moved among departments after fiscal 2026 closedAfter the fiscal year closed, Nibley moved $75,000 among three departments →
- $21,286Annual cost in the sheriff code enforcement exhibitNibley's code enforcement deal with the sheriff: $21,286 on paper, 'around $25,000' at the meeting →
- $3.5 millionState Drinking Water Board loan for a new wellNibley's new well: a $3.5 million state loan the FY2027 budget still lists as proposed debt →
- $4,500Redevelopment agency's fiscal 2027 budgetNibley staff couldn't find a city agreement with its redevelopment agency, so the council approved one →
- $1,155,000Fiscal 2027 property tax revenue, cut from $1.4 millionNibley's June agenda listed a property tax increase. Staff recommended against it. →
Debt and bonds
Nibley's new well: a $3.5 million state loan the FY2027 budget still lists as proposed debt
In 2025 Nibley gave notice it would issue up to $3.8 million in water revenue bonds for a new culinary well, backed by a $3.5 million state Drinking Water Board loan. The city's fiscal 2027 budget still lists the $3.5 million as proposed new debt.
Redevelopment money
Nibley staff couldn't find a city agreement with its redevelopment agency, so the council approved one
In August 2025, Nibley staff said they could find no record of an interlocal agreement between the city and its community reinvestment agency, which consultants needed to start tax increment collection. The council approved one 4-0.
Budgets, reserves and taxes
Nibley's June agenda listed a property tax increase. Staff recommended against it.
Nibley's June 11, 2026 agenda listed steps toward a property tax increase, but the staff report recommended keeping the certified rate. The adopted budget uses the certified rate of .001376 and cuts the property tax line from $1.4 million to $1,155,000.
After the fiscal year closed, Nibley moved $75,000 among three departments
On Aug. 6, five weeks after fiscal 2026 ended, the City Council voted 4-0 to move $75,000 of unspent administration and planning payroll money to the streets, parks and recreation budgets. The treasurer said those three departments' budget expenditures outpaced their revenues in the last week of June.
Contracts and spending
Nibley's code enforcement deal with the sheriff: $21,286 on paper, 'around $25,000' at the meeting
Nibley approved a one-year agreement for the Cache County Sheriff's Office to handle ordinance enforcement. The written exhibit lists 780 hours at $27.29 an hour, or $21,286; the city manager described the contract as around $25,000.