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Hooper City Council adopts amended FY24 budget, sets certified tax rate and approves FY25–26 budget and pay adjustments
Summary
At its June 17 meeting the Hooper City Council approved an amendment to the 2024 budget, set the certified tax rate, adopted the FY2025–26 budget and approved modest increases to pay for elected/ statutory officers. Council also held public hearings on the certified rate and budgets and heard public comments for and against the Smith’s project.
Hooper City Council voted June 17 to adopt several fiscal measures requested in the city treasurer’s proposed amendments and to approve the city’s budget for the year starting fiscal 2025–26.
The council approved a resolution amending the FY2024 budget, set the certified property‑tax rate, adopted the FY2025–26 budget and approved modest increases in monthly pay for elected and statutory officers after public hearings and discussion.
The council also heard public comment at length on the proposed Smith’s‑anchored project and the developer’s request to pursue a Community Reinvestment Area (CRA) and tax‑increment financing; public remarks included both opposition and support for the project.
Votes at a glance - R2025‑01, Amendment to FY2024 budget: carried (roll‑call recorded: Council member Wilcox — Aye; Council member Hill — Aye; Council member Northrup — Aye; Council member Bowers — Nay; motion carried). The amendment covered several small reallocations in municipal program lines and a proposed transfer from the general fund to the capital projects fund to avoid a state auditor finding on fund balance.
- R2025‑02, Approval of wage adjustments for elected and statutory officers: carried (roll‑call recorded: Council member Flowers — Nay; Council member Maragoni — Nay; Council member Northrop — Aye; Council member Hill — Aye; Council member Wilcox — Aye). The change raises the mayor’s stipend to $1,000 per month and increases council and planning‑commission stipends as described in the meeting.
- R2025‑02 (certified tax rate resolution, R2025‑02): carried (roll‑call recorded: Council member Hill — Aye; Council member Northrop — Aye; Council member Maragoni — Aye; Council member Fowers — Aye; Council member Wilcox — Aye). The council adopted the certified property‑tax rate the treasurer presented (0.000280), which the budget projects will generate the city’s estimated property‑tax revenue for the coming fiscal year.
- R2025‑03, Approval of FY2025–26 budget: carried (roll‑call recorded: Council member Northrop — Aye; Council member Maragoni — Aye; Council member Fowers — Aye; Council member Wilcox — Aye; other votes recorded in the transcript were mixed; the motion passed). The budget includes projected general‑fund revenues of approximately $4.12 million, transfers to capital projects, and line‑item allocations for public safety, streets, parks and other services. The sewer enterprise budget accounts for the Central Weaver Sewer District rate increase and includes an estimated $48.88 sewer charge on the city portion.
What council members said Council members asked for more clarity on several line items, including revenue assumptions for Tomato Days and other events, the composition of fixed versus variable municipal costs in the LRB fiscal model, and a proposed transfer from the general fund to capital projects so the city does not exceed the state‑auditor recommended reserve threshold (35% of revenues).
Some council members and residents pressed for greater financial transparency and more conservative assumptions; others urged the council to pursue commercial economic development to broaden the city’s tax base.
Public comment The meeting record shows robust public comment. Several residents urged the council to deny the Smith’s project or to refuse CRA/TIF participation, arguing it would shift risk to Hooper residents; other residents and local business supporters called the proposed development a “once‑in‑a‑lifetime” opportunity to grow the city’s commercial tax base.
Implementation and next steps Staff will post the approved budgets and the state‑required fraud‑risk assessment the city submitted. Council members asked for a separate agenda item at a future meeting to consider internal controls and an ordinance change that would add an additional council signature role on certain expenditures. The city will also expect any rezoning or development agreement related to the Smith’s project to return to council for action after developer negotiations with taxing entities.
