Brigham City Council Examines Operating Projections for 26,500 Sq Ft Recreation Center Ahead of Key Vote

During an intensive work session on October 29, 2026, the Brigham City Council examined comprehensive operating cost projections, revenue modeling, and facility footprints for a proposed city-owned indoor gymnasium and community recreation center.

Parks and Recreation Director Chris Horsley presented detailed operational data in response to council inquiries following a September 17 public hearing on a proposed Capital Projects Fund budget amendment. The amendment would allocate $500,000 to commission a comprehensive architectural bid package, establishing hard construction costs before elected officials decide whether to build the facility.

### The 26,500 Sq Ft Blueprint

The proposed municipal gymnasium is conceptualized as a three-court multi-purpose sports complex spanning approximately 26,500 square feet. Director Horsley modeled the operating framework directly after Farmington City’s successful municipal gymnasium built in 2016, scaling numbers to 83% of Farmington's 32,500-square-foot footprint.

Key annual operating line items presented to the council include:

* **Additional Part-Time Staff Wages**: $43,609 (covering early mornings, evenings, and Saturdays).

* **Utility Costs**: $46,480 (scaled at 83% of Farmington's utility expenditure).

* **Facility Maintenance Costs**: $23,425 (mirrored at 100% due to identical court playing surfaces).

* **Custodial Supplies**: $2,760.

* **Total Gross Operating Cost**: $116,274 per year.

### Offsetting Current Rental Fees

Brigham City currently pays approximately $6,070 annually to rent gymnasium space from the Box Elder School District and the local National Guard Armory for youth and adult sports leagues. By absorbing those activities into a city-owned facility, the net adjusted annual operating expense is estimated at **$110,204**.

### Realistic Revenue & Purchasing Power Adjustments

Addressing revenue potential, Horsley benchmarked open admissions against comparable municipal centers:

* **Baseline Admission Revenue**: Modeled at $61,570 annually ($5,131 monthly) based on 26,330 annual visits.

* **Income-Adjusted Revenue**: Acknowledging that Brigham City's median household income is approximately 56% of Farmington's, Horsley provided a conservative adjusted estimate of $34,479 annually ($2,873 monthly) representing 15,235 projected visits.

Council members underscored that this financial data will inform their formal, binding vote on the $500,000 architectural bid package scheduled for the regular City Council meeting on **November 5, 2026**.