Key takeaways
- Utah state government spent $25.9 billion in fiscal 2024, the 33rd most of any state.
- Statewide purchasing runs through the Division of Purchasing, and vendors register and find bids in Utah Public Procurement Place (U3P).
- The fiscal year starts July 1; the governor's FY2028 budget proposal usually comes in December.
- The 2027 legislative session convenes Jan. 19 and is scheduled to adjourn March 5.
Utah government at a glance
| Fact | Utah |
|---|---|
| State spending, FY 2024 | $25.9 billion (33rd of 50) |
| Fiscal year starts | July 1 |
| Next budget | FY2028 · proposal usually in December |
| 2027 legislative session | Jan. 19 to March 5 (46 days) |
| Central procurement office | Division of Purchasing |
| Bid and vendor portal | Utah Public Procurement Place (U3P) |
| State CIO | Alan Fuller, Chief Information Officer |
| Local governments | 632 total, including 308 special districts and 41 school districts |
| Public power and co-op utilities | 41 public power utilities and 8 electric co-ops |
| State prison population | 6,402 (end of 2023) |
How Utah buys
- Central purchasing. The Division of Purchasing handles statewide contracts and purchasing rules for state agencies.
- Where bids are posted. Utah Public Procurement Place (U3P) is where vendors register and find state solicitations.
- Registering as a vendor. Our Utah vendor registration guide walks through the steps, fees and documents.
- Agencies and local buyers. Many agencies, universities, cities, counties and school districts buy on their own or through cooperative contracts; see our cooperative purchasing guide.
Budget and legislative calendar
- Fiscal year. Utah's fiscal year starts July 1. The next budget covers FY2028.
- Governor's proposal. Usually released in December. Status as of Nov. 8, 2026: not yet released. Track it in our governor budget proposals tracker.
- 2027 session. Convenes Jan. 19 and is scheduled to adjourn March 5. 45-day session. See the 2027 legislative session calendar.
Technology and AI
- State CIO. Alan Fuller, Chief Information Officer, leads the Department of Technology Resources. See the full state CIO directory.
- AI policy. Our tracker counts 1 executive order, 1 law and 1 agency policy on government AI use, plus an AI office or council. See the state AI policy tracker.
- How IT buying works. See how state agencies buy technology.
Largest public buyers in Utah
The biggest Utah entities on our national rankings. Each one runs its own budget and, in most cases, its own purchasing.
| Buyer | Type | Size | National rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Salt Lake County | County | 1,220,916 residents (2025) | 40 of 100 largest counties |
| Utah County | County | 759,859 residents (2025) | 88 of 100 largest counties |
| Alpine | School district | 86,275 students (fall 2021) | 36 of 100 largest districts |
| Davis | School district | 74,486 students (fall 2021) | 48 of 100 largest districts |
| Granite | School district | 62,544 students (fall 2021) | 62 of 100 largest districts |
| Utah Valley University | Public university | 46,807 students (fall 2024) | 33 of 40 largest |
| Utah Transit Authority | Transit agency | 35,059,900 trips (2023) | 29 of 50 largest |
| Salt Lake City International | Airport | 13,429,128 passengers boarded (2025) | 23 of 100 busiest |
| Salt Lake City Public Utilities | Water utility | 381,174 people served | 87 of 208 largest |
| Unified Police Department of Greater Salt Lake | Sheriff's office | 435 sworn personnel (2016) | 47 of 50 largest |
Sources: KSG rankings of the largest cities, counties, school districts, public universities, transit agencies, airports, water utilities, public power utilities, police departments and other lists. Figures are from each list's source year.
Local government and utilities
- 632 local governments. That includes 308 special districts and 41 school districts. See special districts by state.
- Utilities. 41 public power utilities and 8 electric cooperatives serve 373,511 customers, 26% of the state. See Utah utilities.
- Budget cycles. Cities, counties and school districts set their own fiscal years; see city and county budget calendars.
Utah state holidays in 2027
Besides the 11 federal holidays, Utah state offices close on these days in 2027:
- Pioneer Day: July 24 (a Saturday) (Utah; check the state's observed date)
See the full 2027 federal and state holiday calendar.
How KSG helps
Kensington Sales Group's SDRs book meetings with public agencies across Federal, SLED, K-12 & Higher Ed, Healthcare, Tribal, Special Districts and Utilities. We research Utah buyers, time outreach to state and local budget cycles and get you in front of the people who own the problem you solve. See how our state and local sales development works.
Found a broken link or something inaccurate? We keep this page up to date. If a link doesn't work or any information here is wrong or out of date, report it by email to research@kensingtonsalesgroup.com and we'll fix it.