Mayor warns proposed homeowner exemption change could cut city revenue by about $1.6 million

The mayor used a budget slide to explain how Draper funds services largely through property and sales tax and how state proposals could affect city finances. He said the city’s revenue graphic showed tax receipts and that the city relies heavily on sales tax for operations.

He described an error at last year’s truth‑in‑taxation hearing when the city failed to include a slide listing other taxing entities in the county and said that omission cost the city access to about $980,000 in roll‑off bond revenue the council had expected. "We missed that slide. It was our bad," he said.

The mayor also warned that a legislative idea to increase the homeowner exemption (the part of a home's value excluded for local taxation) from the current 45% to 60% would remove "about 1,600,000.0 right out of our budget," saying the city does not have that money available. He framed the issue as a budgetary tradeoff: reducing taxes lowers available funds for police, fire, parks and infrastructure.

He urged residents to engage with state representatives, review the truth‑in‑taxation process and shop locally to support sales tax revenue that funds city services. In answer to questions he reiterated that the city must balance reserves and services when revenue falls.