Herriman City has approved a new 10-year capital improvement plan that includes maintenance and improvements for streets, parks, facilities, stormwater systems and other projects. The city is short an estimated $18 million for all requested projects, which total nearly $282.3 million over the next 10 years. 

“Now we have to step back and say, okay what’s realistic, what can we actually do… we’re dealing with all the commitments that have already been made,” City Manager Nathan Cherpeski said, referring to contractual commitments made by the city in previous years. 

Herriman anticipates additional projects will be added over the next decade. 

As budgets are approved two years at a time, funding for projects beyond fiscal year 2026 is not yet solidified. “The project still isn’t finally approved until the construction contract is awarded following the design and bidding process,” Herriman Communications Manager Jon LaFollette said. “They’re all subject to change until the construction begins.”

The new capital improvement plan will require $72 million in the first two years. Funding will come from tax and fee revenue, grants, bonds and impact fees. To fulfill upcoming financial obligations and make reimbursement payments, the city plans to issue a bond, a common strategy for municipalities. 

By state law, developers must pay impact fees so costs do not fall on existing residents, but this source of income is limited. 

“Projects or parts of projects related to new growth can be eligible for funding through impact fees. Cities also have limits on what they can charge,” LaFollette said. “In reality, the costs of projects often exceed the revenue generated from impact fees… The city must carefully prioritize the use of impact fee funds, as with any other funding sources.”

In a category of their own, proposed equipment and vehicle expenditures will pull money from the capital projects equipment fund. Totals for fiscal years 2025 and 2026 are $607,340 and $725,280.

The city will spend the majority of its capital improvement funds on streets. In fiscal year 2025, 6000 W. Road Widening Phase 1 will widen 6000 West from Silver Sky Drive to Herriman Blvd. and is estimated to cost $3.4 million. 

Another pricey undertaking in fiscal year 2025, 6400 W. Improvements Phase 3, is budgeted for around $4.7 million and will build 6400 West from Midas Creek to 11800 South, including a bridge.

For fiscal year 2026, 7300 W. Extension Phase 4 is the most expensive endeavor but will be funded by a grant. Costing $7.7 million in total, $200,000 of which is scheduled to be paid in fiscal year 2025, this project will include infrastructure improvements from Main St. to Butterfield Creek and a traffic light at 7300 W. and Main St. 

A close second at $7.1 million, 6400 W. Improvements Phase 2 in fiscal year 2026 will extend 6400 West from Herriman Blvd. to Midas Creek.

Other fiscal year 2026 projects of note include a replacement for Fire Station 103, which weighs in at $5.7 million, and a design for a new animal shelter. The design is projected to cost a comparatively humble $92,800. The city shelter is currently housed in a leased facility. 

Because of problematic sections, many Herriman residents have requested work on 5600 West, but it is not included in the capital improvement plan. Originally slated to be rebuilt in the upcoming fiscal year, the city has since decided to delay work after learning that Jordan Valley Water Conservancy District plans to install a water line in the road. 

“We’re certainly aware of the road conditions. But we don’t want to fix the road only to have it ripped up when… Jordan Valley… does their project,” LaFollette said. “We’d rather wait and partner with them, including sharing costs where we can.” 

In the interim, city officials explored the possibility of milling the roughest patches of 5600 West by removing surface asphalt to level the road but have opted to leave it as is until Jordan Valley begins work. 

“We had a pavement specialist… look at the asphalt…  Their recommendation was that… all of the asphalt needs to be replaced…” City Engineer Bryce Terry said. “That asphalt is about 25 years old, and so it is getting to its end of life.” The city expects this approach to save money, anticipating that the road will be completed within the next few years.  λ