Mayor-Council Form of Government

The Salt Lake City Council has been a separate and equal branch of city government since the city changed to a mayor-council form of government in 1979.

The council is comprised of seven members. Each Council Member represents a geographical district of Salt Lake City. Council Members are part-time elected officials who are paid $20,947 per year. Each member serves a four-year term and is elected in nonpartisan elections. Each calendar year the council elects a new chair and vice chair from among themselves. 

Like other legislative bodies, the City Council's main tasks are the adoption and oversight of Salt Lake City's annual budget. Property taxes make up the bulk of the general fund. It is supplemented by state sales tax revenue, franchise taxes, and civil fines and forfeitures. The current fiscal year runs from July 1, 2007 to June 30, 2008. The City Council also oversees the budget of the Salt Lake City Library System.

Other responsibilities for City Council Members include introducing legislation, setting city policy, and giving advice and consent on appointments made by the mayor to city boards and commissions. The council also serves as the board of directors of the Salt Lake City Redevelopment Agency.

Current City Council Members and the districts they serve: District No. 1 -- Carlton Christensen, Vice Chair; District No. 2 -- Van Blair Turner; District No. 3 -- Eric Jergensen; District No. 4 -- Luke Garrott; District No. 5 -- Jill Remington Love, Chair; District No. 6-- JT Martin; District No. 7 -- Søren D. Simonsen.

The council employs a staff of 14 led by Executive Director Cindy Gust-Jenson and Deputy Director Jennifer Bruno. Staff members perform a variety of tasks including working with constituents and researching and analyzing issues pertinent to city policies.

For more information, please contact the City Council Office via email, by phone at (801) 535-7600, by fax at (801) 535-7651, or write to:

Office of the City Council
City & County Building
451 South State Street, Room 304
PO Box 145476
Salt Lake City, UT 84114-5476