Herriman council flags intent to review fire and police tax lines after UFA cost increase

Herriman officials told listeners on the June 13 Herriminology podcast that the city will notify residents and begin the truth-in-taxation process this summer to consider whether to raise the fire and police portions of local property taxes to cover rising costs.

"They gave us this basically 1.7% increase," communications manager John LaFollette said of the Unified Fire Authority (UFA) contract for fire and emergency services. Mayor Mary Palmer said the council decided not to pursue an increase on the city's main general line at this time but that the notice of intent for the fire and law-enforcement lines was put forward to match contract cost increases.

Palmer described a hypothetical $2-per-year increase on the main city line as an example and said that would amount to about $30,000 for the city. She emphasized the council's sensitivity to household budgets and said the notice is an intent to examine options, not an immediate tax increase. "This is not like we said in the meeting, this is not an increase at this time," Palmer said.

LaFollette explained how Utah's property tax calculations differ from other states: local entities set a target dollar amount and county/state assessors calculate the mill rate (tax percentage) needed to reach that amount against assessed values. That means increases to the dollar amount require a truth-in-taxation process; otherwise rates adjust downward if assessed values rise.

Officials said further outreach and education will occur through the summer, with truth-in-taxation notices and hearings expected in August. No final rates, ordinance numbers, or vote schedules were announced on the podcast.