[{"_1":2,"_85":-5,"_86":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":-5,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":59,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":65,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6563675,"mediaKeyId","3379526-7a4c2e0dd550694ec747c06393c9d78c","parentId",3379526,"title","Clinton council adopts tentative budget, votes to pursue 15% property tax increase and set tax hearing","audioSeconds",1217,"startMs",835000,"endMs",2052000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3379526-7a4c2e0dd550694ec747c06393c9d78c&start=835&end=2052","thumbnailUrl","https://d352y6ypj4mjo3.cloudfront.net/AudioPlaceholder.png","articleUrl","/articles/6563675/Utah/Clinton-council-adopts-tentative-budget-votes-to-pursue-15-property-tax-increase-and-set-tax-hearing","mediaUrl","author","Clinton City Council","date","2025-05-13T18:00:00Z","article","Clinton City Council adopted a tentative fiscal year 2025–26 budget May 13 and voted to enter the truth‑in‑taxation process, setting a public hearing on the final budget that includes a proposed 15% property tax increase.

Budget staff opened the discussion by flagging recent sales tax receipts that were lower than the prior year (a roughly $52,000 drop, about an 11.5% fall for the most recently reported month) and showed a projected ongoing deficit driven largely by rising personnel costs. Finance staff and the city manager reviewed options to reduce operating expenses (training reductions, maintenance deferrals) and to scale back capital projects (street resurfacing, park equipment) to narrow the gap. Staff also proposed transferring $500,000 from the general fund to capital improvement funds as part of the tentative budget.

Council members spent more than an hour debating tradeoffs between cutting services, using reserves and raising property taxes. Several council members argued that Clinton has fallen behind comparable cities in property tax collections over many years and urged a multi‑year approach to restore long‑term fiscal balance. Others favored deeper operational cuts, further delay of discretionary capital projects and additional analysis of fees and enterprise funds before asking residents for another tax increase.

Council directed staff to run scenarios at multiple levels so the council could compare outcomes. Staff said they would provide budget views showing the effects of 5%, 10% and 15% property tax increases and update the council with a five‑year view and a balance sheet going back several years.

After debate the council voted to adopt the tentative budget and enter truth in taxation with a 15% preliminary property tax increase for public notice and a hearing. Staff said the final budget adoption and truth‑in‑taxation hearing are planned for the June meeting cycle (staff to confirm noticing and exact hearing date). The motion passed; council members asked staff to return with refined scenarios, a five‑year capital plan and enterprise‑fund fee studies (including a transportation utility fee study that staff estimated could take three to five months to complete).

Why this matters: City leaders say personnel costs have steadily outpaced stable revenue sources (property and sales tax) and the city is relying more heavily on reserves and one‑time transfers to finance infrastructure and services. The council's decision to open truth in taxation will allow staff to notify the public and hold a hearing about the possible increase; any final tax rate will be set at a later meeting.

What to watch next: staff modeling of 5/10/15% options, a five‑year capital plan, a transportation utility fee study and the council public hearing for the final budget and any truth‑in‑taxation resolution.","mediaType","Audio","parentTitle","Clinton City Council Meeting - http://audiofiles.clintoncity.com/City%20Council/2025/CC%2020250513","oneSentenceSummary","After a lengthy budget discussion on May 13, Clinton City Council adopted a tentative FY2025–26 budget and voted to enter the truth-in-taxation process, directing staff to model scenarios and schedule a public hearing on a proposed 15% property tax increase.","taxTitle","Clinton, Davis County, Utah","taxId",68850,"location","Utah","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":50,"_51":82,"_53":-5,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":83,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":84,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6563680,"Clinton approves bid to drill new municipal well; federal grant covers half the cost",651,158000,809000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3379526-7a4c2e0dd550694ec747c06393c9d78c&start=158&end=809","/articles/6563680/Utah/Clinton-approves-bid-to-drill-new-municipal-well-federal-grant-covers-half-the-cost","Clinton City Council approved the consent agenda at its May 13 meeting, clearing a bid award to start phase one of a planned municipal well project that staff say will provide a redundant water source for the city.

City staff told council the project has been years in the making: the city purchased water rights and a site in anticipation of growth, and has completed state permitting steps required to drill because the area contains soils affected by a former Hill Air Force Base contamination plume. Staff said those reviews are complete and the project is now ready to move to drilling.

The city has secured a $2,000,000 grant from the Bureau of Reclamation that requires a 50% local match. Staff advised council the drilling contract released for phase one covers only the drilling work; equipping the well (installing pump and motor) will be a separate, significant cost and likely similar in magnitude. Staff estimated the well bore will be drilled to roughly 900 feet and cased with 16-inch casing, then test-pumped for roughly a week to verify flow and water quality before ordering long‑lead equipment.

City staff said they expect to design the well to produce about 1,500 gallons per minute (gpm) for equipment sizing but noted the actual production will be confirmed by test pumping; \"if the well can only produce a thousand gallons a minute, we'll have issues with the equipment,\" a staff presenter said. The bidder intends to begin drilling near the end of the month and work around the clock until that phase is complete; staff said contractors will construct temporary sound walls to reduce noise and that drilling could take about a month.

Staff also explained a procurement constraint tied to the federal grant: the Buy America/Build America procurement clauses limit available casing options. The city had requested seamless casing for added corrosion resistance, but staff said bidders could not provide that option while meeting the federal requirements; instead the project includes higher‑strength alloys as a corrosion‑resistant option. Staff reported roughly 30% of recent municipal wells use some form of corrosion-resistant casing but that stainless steel casings were judged cost-prohibitive for this project.

Council approved the consent agenda motion that included the bid award; the motion passed as part of the consent vote. Staff said the next steps are to finalize contracts, begin drilling work if paperwork is complete and then perform the test pump and water-quality sampling required by state regulators before proceeding to the well-equipping phase.

Why this matters: Clinton is supplied by multiple sources; council and staff described the new well as a redundant local source intended to maintain service if off-site conveyance lines are interrupted. The project shifts some capital cost onto a federal grant but triggers procurement rules that reduce some equipment choices.

What to watch next: staff said they will return with updates after the test pump and when they have firm timelines for the equipping phase and associated matching funds.","Clinton City authorized the first phase of drilling a new municipal well after staff described long permitting, testing and funding steps tied to a $2 million Bureau of Reclamation grant with a required 50% local match.","actionData","errors"]

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Clinton council adopts tentative budget, votes to pursue 15% property tax increase and set tax hearing

Clinton approves bid to drill new municipal well; federal grant covers half the cost