The Santaquin City Council on Aug. 7 held a formal public hearing on a proposed property tax increase and then voted to adopt the certified tax rate and the city's final budget. The council passed the motion by roll call after hearing several residents voice opposition to higher property taxes and city staff and the fire chief describe service and staffing needs.

At the outset of the meeting Mayor Olsen opened the hearing, saying the session was being held under state truth-in-taxation law and inviting public comment on the published proposal. Several residents spoke against the increase, calling repeated tax raises burdensome; others, including Fire Chief Ryan, urged support to fund emergency staffing and public-safety improvements.

The council moved to adopt Resolution 0801-2025 (adoption of the certified tax rate) and, after a roll-call vote, approved it (votes recorded as: Lynn Aye; Travis Aye; Jeff Aye; Art Aye; Bridal Aye). The council then approved the final city budget (Resolution 0802-2025) by roll call.

During the hearing, resident Burke Terry said the repeated property-tax increases were unacceptable and that even a small monthly increase "adds up eventually." Another resident, Clyde Holm, said he was tired of taxes always going up. Several commenters asked whether the city had excess revenue from prior increases and whether that revenue could be used instead of raising taxes.

Dale Summerhades and other speakers repeatedly questioned whether gravel-pit operations (referred to variously as Great Cliffs and other quarries) were paying local sales or royalty revenue to the city; the mayor and staff said the city receives some revenue from SunRock and has been pursuing additional collections where possible. The mayor said the city obtains some sales-tax revenue from quarry operations through business licensing arrangements and that staff are working with the state to secure additional revenue.

Fire Chief Ryan, speaking as both a resident and the city's fire chief, described operational limits and staffing shortfalls. He said the department began 24/7 staffing with three people on Jan. 1, 2025, to reduce ambulance response times; that the city currently has one full-time firefighter (himself) and that additional revenue would fund additional full-time positions for fire and police and library part-time positions; and that part-time staff are federally limited to 28 hours per week. Ryan said some of the proposed revenue would support one half of a full-time firefighter position and other public-safety staffing.

Council members and the mayor framed the tax measure as intended to keep pace with inflation and maintain services. Mayor Olsen said property taxes account for about 8% of the city's total budget and that other revenues and efficiencies cover the rest. The mayor also said the council has worked to stretch funds and to attract businesses that increase sales-tax revenue.

The council also convened and approved the budgets for three related entities that require board action each fiscal year: the Sanquin (San Quentin) Community Development and Renewal Agency (CDRA), the Sanquin Local Building Authority, and the Sanquin Special Service District (water). Each body's budget was approved by roll call during the same meeting sequence.

The public hearing was formally closed before the council moved to the business items and the recorded votes approving the certified tax rate and final budgets. The council said staff would follow up on several citizen concerns raised during public comment, including dust mitigation at quarry sites and sales-tax collection from quarry operations.

The council announced the next regular meeting date and adjourned after completing the agenda.