Utah § 17-63-204 - Retained earnings -- Accumulation -- Restrictions -- Disbursements.

Full text of Utah Utah Code § 17-63-204 — Retained earnings -- Accumulation -- Restrictions -- Disbursements., with citation guidance and answers to common questions.

§ 17-63-204. Retained earnings -- Accumulation -- Restrictions -- Disbursements.

Effective 11/6/2025
17-63-204.  Retained earnings -- Accumulation -- Restrictions -- Disbursements.
(1)
(a)A county may accumulate:
(i)retained earnings in any enterprise or internal service fund; and
(ii)a fund balance in any fund that is not an enterprise or internal service fund.
(b)Notwithstanding Subsection (1)(a), use of the county general fund shall be restricted to the following purposes:
(i)to provide cash to finance expenditures from the beginning of the budget period until general property taxes, sales taxes, or other revenues are collected;
(ii)to provide a fund or reserve to meet emergency expenditures; and
(iii)to cover unanticipated deficits for future years.
(2)
(a)The maximum accumulated unappropriated surplus in the county general fund, as determined before adoption of the tentative budget, may not exceed an amount equal to the greater of:
(i)
(A)for a county with a taxable value of $750,000,000 or more and a population of 100,000 or more, 25% of the total revenues of the county general fund for the current fiscal period; or
(B)for any other county, 65% of the total revenues of the county general fund for the current fiscal period; and
(ii)the estimated total revenues from property taxes for the current fiscal period.
(b)Any surplus balance in excess of the above computed maximum shall be included in the estimated revenues of the county general fund budget for the next fiscal period.
(3)Any fund balance exceeding 5% of the total county general fund revenues may be used for budgetary purposes.
(4)
(a)A county may appropriate funds from estimated revenue in any budget period to a reserve for capital improvements within any capital improvements fund which has been duly established by ordinance or resolution.
(b)Money in the reserves shall be allowed to accumulate from fiscal period to fiscal period until the accumulated total is sufficient to permit economical expenditure for the specified purposes.
(c)Disbursements from the reserves shall be made only by transfer to a revenue account within a capital improvements fund in accordance with an appropriation for the fund.
(d)Expenditures from the capital improvement budget accounts shall conform to all requirements of this chapter as it relates to the execution and control of budgets.


Renumbered and Amended by Chapter 13, 2025 Special Session 1

Source: official Utah text · Last verified 2026-08-27

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Frequently Asked Questions About Utah § 17-63-204

What does Utah Code § 17-63-204 cover?

Section 17-63-204 ("Retained earnings -- Accumulation -- Restrictions -- Disbursements.") is part of the Utah Code, the codified statutory law of Utah. It sets out the legal rule or procedure described in the text above. Statutes are amended regularly, so always verify against the official source.

How do I cite Utah § 17-63-204?

A common citation format is "Utah Code § 17-63-204" (Utah). Legal writing may require the code abbreviation, section number, and year or edition. Match the style required by your court, professor, or publisher.

Is this the official text of Utah law?

No. This page is for research and education and may not include the most recent amendments. For official current law, check the Utah official source linked on this page or consult a licensed Utah attorney.

How does Utah § 17-63-204 apply to my situation?

Statutes are interpreted in context, and application depends on your specific facts. Only a licensed attorney in Utah can advise on how this section applies to you. Contact your state or local bar association for a referral.

Sources & Verification

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