Brigham City holds Truth-in-Taxation hearing on proposed 4–4.6% property tax increase to shore up fleet and benefits costs

Brigham City held a public hearing Aug. 7 on a tentative property tax increase the city says is needed mainly to replenish its fleet-replacement fund and to cover rising employee insurance costs. Financial Director Tom Cotter told the council and residents the tentative budget would increase the city’s property-tax levy by about 4.35% (Cotter said the exact percentage can vary to about 4.6% depending on tax-commission calculations) and that the city expects the change to raise roughly $155,000 for the general fund fleet program.

Why it matters: The hearing is part of Utah’s statutory “truth in taxation” process. If adopted, the change would add an ongoing revenue stream the city says is necessary to replace ambulances, garbage trucks and fire engines that have risen sharply in price in recent years and to absorb an estimated increase in employee insurance costs for 2026.

Cotter told the council the city operates a separate fleet fund that buys vehicles and leases them to…