Santaquin schedules public hearing on tentative 2025–26 budget; SB 81 requires separate hearing on executive municipal officers

Santaquin city staff reviewed the tentative fiscal year 2025–26 budget and told the council the city will hold public hearings for the city, the Community Development Renewal Agency (CDRA), the Special Service District (SSD) and the Local Building Authority (LBA).

City staff alerted the council that Senate Bill 81 requires the city to hold a public hearing if compensation for executive municipal officers is increased. The city manager explained the statute covers “executive municipal officers” and specifically identified the positions included under that definition as the city manager, assistant city manager and the city’s department directors.

Staff said the budget under consideration contains a proposed cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) of 4.6% for employees and up to a 1.5% merit increase, the same package being considered for all city employees. In addition, a citywide salary survey identified four positions that could receive a market adjustment of up to 4%; one of those four positions is at a director level. Staff estimated the total budget impact of the market adjustments for the four positions at under $10,000.

Finance Director Shanna Hoffman was present to answer questions. Councilors asked about overall property-tax revenue included in the budget; staff cited a projected property-tax amount of $1,944,560 for next fiscal year and noted the current year figure was roughly $1.73 million.

The council did not take final action in the work session; the tentative budget and the SB 81–required hearing will be on the agenda for the regular council meeting. Staff said the public hearing on executive municipal officers will be held as part of the budget-finalization process and that the public may speak during the hearing but councilors should not comment during the public hearing portion.