Frequently Asked Questions

City roads are a municipal utility, much like water, sewer and stormwater systems. A Transportation Utility Fee is assessed for the use and maintenance of the utility. City roads are used by the entire community, and therefore implementing a utility fee that is based on user type is the most equitable rate structure. Funds collected through the TUF are dedicated exclusively for streetlights, road repairs, construction, maintenance and related infrastructure within city boundaries. Without a Transportation Utility Fee the city would have to consider deferring projects or using other funding sources to maintain roads, such as raising taxes or using the city’s general fund (which would reduce service levels in other areas). 

South Salt Lake needs additional revenue sources to pay for critical roadway projects to ensure the integrity of transportation infrastructure within the city. When there is a lack of adequate funding for maintenance, projects get deferred and repair costs quickly increase. This impacts public safety and daily transportation in our community. Conducting regular maintenance of our roads helps extend their useful life and is more cost effective than having to replace them. Therefore, staying current on road maintenance and the city’s Public Works Capital Improvement Plan is a priority. 

In the past, the city primarily used state collected Class C Road Funds and funding from the city’s General Fund to pay for road projects. Looking at the critical road projects over the next fifteen years, these funds alone were not enough to pay for the projects. Additionally, Class C Road Funds restrict what roads and projects to specific areas, not allowing flexibility for necessary improvements in areas. South Salt Lake did not recommend raising property taxes or transferring additional funds from the General Fund because doing so would mean less investment in other city projects and services that benefit the community.

South Salt Lake conducted public outreach and information sharing about the TUF in various ways: 

1. On June 11, 2025 as part of a regularly scheduled City Council public meeting, EFG Consulting presented findings from the Transportation Utility Fee Analysis and included a methodology. 
2. In July 2025, the city included an attachment in utility bills notifying a public comment session would be held on July 23, 2025 as part of the meeting where City Council would consider adopting the ordinance to approve TUF. 
3. During the July 23, 2025 City Council meeting, no public comment was received regarding TUF and City Council approved the TUF ordinance.  
4. In February 2026, the city included an attachment in utility bills, and separately sent a direct postcard mailer to all Property Owners as a reminder that the TUF would be implemented starting in February (appear on March utility bill). 
5. A Transportation Utility Fee webpage was published on the city website to help customers understand why and how TUF was implemented, and provide FAQs and information about the fee. 

Communities across the state are facing revenue shortfalls for keeping up with roadway projects. Since 2016, TUF has been implemented in cities across Utah as the preferred way to fund the ongoing need for road maintenance and improvement projects. 

Pleasant Grove, Provo, Kaysville, South Ogden, Highland, Mapleton, Pleasant View, South Weber, Fruit Heights, and Farmington. Vineyard, Washington City, and Duchesne County are all currently implementing TUF this year. 

The Transportation Utility Fee rate structure is calculated based on the property owner user type:

• Residential
• Business, office
• Business, commercial/retail
• Business, industrial

For business category, the user type is determined by the entity's business license, county record, utility account, and Title 12 definition.

Looking at land use and daily trip numbers, an Estimated Residential Unit (ERU) was assigned to a single-family home based on estimated daily trips with a single-axle vehicle. The ERU is then weighted for increased axle load and daily trips estimated for the other user types and then multiplied by the monthly rate per 1,000 square feet.

For example: Retail Goods LLC has a user type "commercial/retail" with a building size of 4,300 square feet. Their monthly TUF would be $93.14. (4,300 / 1,000 * $21.66 = $93.14)

Click here to view June 2025 Analysis Report by EFG Consulting with the rate structure methodology.

The City Council’s policy adoptions included exemption of certain user types from the TUF, including residents, places of worship, and certain nonprofit organizations.

A staff level administrative review is possible before starting a formal appeal process. For concerns regarding TUF related to property size, use type or exemption status, start by contacting Utility Billing at 801-483-6000 or use our  online form.

After a final administrative decision is made or for any other item related to TUF, the formal dispute process is outlined in City Ordinance Title 13.74.040.H regarding Customer Service Regulations and City Ordinance Title 2.22.040, and is handled through the South Salt Lake Utilities Office and Administrative Law Judge.