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SALT LAKE CITY — If it seems like Utah’s wildfire season has been a bit mild, you’re right. And that means less strain on Utah’s state budget.
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The number of human-caused wildfires dropped by two-thirds in July and August, which also means the cost for fighting those fires also dropped significantly.
Unlike most other parts of the state budget, the state does not use a set amount of money to pay for the cost of fighting wildfires. Instead, most of that money is allocated after the fact since it’s impossible to project the cost ahead of time. This year, lawmakers allocated $54.2 million to cover the cost of the previous year.
Turns out that was far too much. The actual costs for fire expenses and rehabilitation was just over $30.4 million, leaving $28.5 million lawmakers can carry over to cover this year’s costs.
Read the full story here: SLTrib.com.
Written by BRYAN SCHOTT, The Salt Lake Tribune.
This article is published through the Utah News Collaborative, a partnership of news organizations in Utah that aims to inform readers across the state.
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