Business Climate
In 2012, Forbes Magazine recognized Provo as the number one place in the United States for business and careers.
This is no small accomplishment. Investment in Provo is at an all-time high. During my first term investors spent over half a billion dollars on building projects in our city.
Google Fiber has chosen Provo as one of three cities in the world for high-end investment because we have a sterling reputation for quality of personal and family life, volunteerism and a strong business climate.
City Government
When
I took office we were in what many called the worst economy of our lives.
Provo
City had made cut after cut and yet more were needed. Employee’s wages had been
frozen. Some of the city's best employees were let go in order to balance the
budget yet it wasn't enough. More had to be done.
During
the 12 months before I came into office the cost we paid for power exceeded the
amount we collected by millions of dollars. We were in the red. Our reserves
had dwindled by $10 million in just one year.
We
had no answers for iProvo which threatened to undermine our budget by hundreds
of thousands of dollars a month.
Our
roads were aging. We were three years into a 10-year road bond obligation and we
had already spent the proceeds.
The
challenges were mighty but we rolled up our sleeves and did what taxpayers
expected. We did it with smiles on our faces and in a way that actually
improved employee morale and resident confidence.
We
established a reputation for transparency and open government. We listened and
we heard what our residents said to us.
A
team of residents combined with hundreds of employees did in Provo what we’re
all screaming for Washington D.C. to do.
We
changed the set point for government. We made wise and careful cuts that
provided no perceived reduction in services to our public.
(How
much did we cut — about 8% of our overall budget or over $5 million.)
Remember
this was after several rounds of earlier cuts. Most importantly we made smart
cuts. We made cuts that have been long lasting. We’re saving that $5 million on
an annual basis. In other words in my four years that equates to $20 million
less in city spending.
We
continue to fight the good fight. This year we started work on our 2014 budget
in July of 2012. Once again using residents, employees, City Council members
and a dedicated staff, we have looked at every aspect of how we operate to find
ways to save and increase efficiency. We’re not perfect but we give taxpayers a
great value.
Airport
In 2011 we brought
scheduled air service to the Provo Airport.
Frontier Airlines flew
regular, full flights to Denver on a daily basis which people appeared to
appreciate.
Subsequently Frontier has
sold the planes they were using to fly to Provo and thus discontinued the
service.
The good news is that in
the fall of 2012 we announced that Allegiant Airlines would start service to
the Phoenix area and most recently we announced flights to Oakland. We are
confident in additional flight announcements to come. Scheduled service at the
airport has been a tremendous boon for our city bringing economic development
and an improved quality of life.
Downtown
Our
downtown is thriving. Provo City has been recognized as the 8th most
livable downtown of all-size cities.
We
continue to see small and large investments at every turn. Not only are we
seeing investments such as the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints'
Provo LDS Temple, Nu Skin’s $85 million Innovation Center and the new Utah
Valley Convention Center with 83,578 square feet of environmentally friendly
meeting space but we were recently recognized by a Salt Lake publication as the
“hippest place in Salt Lake City.”
Much
of this comes from our over 50 unique restaurants and vibrant music
scene.
Things
are looking up. We're on a roll and we're getting it together. I'm proud to be
part of this.
