Woodland Hills council weighs holding truth-in-taxation hearing as FY2026 budget eyed

The Woodland Hills City Council discussed the tentative fiscal year 2026 budget at a work session, including whether to hold a truth-in-taxation hearing, after staff presented beginning fund balances and multi-year road and utility needs.

City staff said several capital needs would outpace current savings unless the council either stages projects, borrows, or increases revenue. Chris (city finance staff) told the council that the public works fund balance stood at $925,006.77 and that pavement-management needs beyond 2027 totaled about $2,800,000.0, with roughly $500,000 under contract this year and another $500,000 planned for 2026.

The council spent most of the discussion on balancing three priorities: (1) avoid a large single tax increase later, (2) preserve reserves for emergencies, and (3) fund an accelerated pavement-management plan. Carrie (emergency management/council liaison) and several council members emphasized maintaining a healthy emergency/reserve balance even while addressing roads and water projects.

Chris summarized next steps and timing: “Within the next 3 weeks, I should have the numbers from the state of Utah through Utah County,” he said, meaning the office would be able to model revenue under either keeping the current tax rate or proposing a modest increase. Council members asked staff to prepare scenarios that show (a) keeping the current rate (which typically raises revenue because property valuations rose) and (b) modest rate increases, with multi-year projections for reserves and pavement spending.

Council members also discussed alternatives to drawing savings for capital work, including borrowing to spread project costs across current and future beneficiaries. One councilor noted that borrowing can lower long-term construction costs by allowing work to proceed sooner rather than paying higher future construction prices.

Procedural timing was discussed: staff indicated the June 24 public hearing on the FY2026 budget remains on the calendar and that, if the council decides to hold a truth-in-taxation hearing, August dates were likely candidates. Council members signaled a preference for August 20 (their second meeting that month) if the county calendar allows.

Why this matters: Woodland Hills relies heavily on property tax and has limited alternative revenue. The pavement-management plan is a multi-year program that the council and staff said requires balancing tax policy, use of savings, and possible debt financing to avoid a sudden large rate increase later.

Clarifying details pulled from the session: the city reported a public-works-related balance of $925,006.77; pavement-management needs beyond 2027 were cited at about $2,800,000.0; $500,000 is under contract this year and $500,000 was planned for 2026. The fire fund balance of about $144,008.50 had been used to offset the general account in the previous year and is expected to be nearly zero except for new savings going forward. Staff reported they will receive property valuation figures from Utah County within roughly three weeks and will prepare revenue/impact scenarios for the council to review.

The work session did not include a final vote on the budget or a truth-in-taxation resolution; council members asked staff for numbers and for the finance committee to review scenarios before the council sets a final rate or schedules a hearing.

Ending: Staff will return with county valuation figures and revenue scenarios; the council can then choose whether to proceed with a truth-in-taxation hearing and which mix of savings, borrowing, or rate change best meets Woodland Hills’ multi-year capital plan.