Canyon staff previews budget that would raise city tax rate to 0.517; public safety staffing cited as main driver

City of Canyon finance staff presented a preliminary 2025 budget at the July 1 City Commission meeting that would raise the city's total tax rate to 0.517, a roughly 26% increase from the 2024 rate, and called for public feedback before the commission makes a final decision.

The proposed rate includes a 5% increase for operations and a much larger increase for debt service tied to new public safety facility debt. Joel Boyer, the city finance director, told commissioners the city's estimates currently use uncertified property values and that the certified values are due within a week; the debt service portion is also subject to change until the debt is issued.

Boyer said the proposed rate would generate roughly $1.4 million more in property-tax revenue next year, about $300,000 of which is earmarked for operations and more than $1 million for debt service linked to public safety facilities. He described a 3% overall increase in the combined operating funds and noted the city has issued more than $24 million in debt for…