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West Valley City staff propose $2.9 million property-tax increase to fund public safety
Summary
City staff presented a tentative FY2025–26 budget that includes a proposed $2.9 million property-tax increase to sustain police and fire services, and scheduled a public hearing for Aug. 19 to receive public comment.
City staff told the West Valley City Council on Aug. 12 that a proposed $2.9 million increase in property-tax revenue would be used to fund ongoing public-safety costs and would be the subject of a public hearing next week.
"This year, the budget is the total budget will be a little over a $169,000,000," Mr. Welch told the council as he reviewed the tentative FY2025–26 budget and the accompanying notice. He said the general fund is roughly $120 million and that the city is proposing a $2,900,000 increase in property-tax revenue to cover public-safety expenses.
The staff presentation tied the $2.9 million specifically to public safety. "The $2,900,000 dollars is, specifically going to fund the ongoing cost of providing public safety services," Welch said, noting that public-safety increases this year included hiring six new firefighters, market salary adjustments for police and fire that totaled about $1.2 million, authorization of four additional sworn police officers (about $500,000), and other one-time and contract costs such as body cameras and protective vests.
Welch said sales tax accounts for roughly 39% of city revenue, property tax about 30% and user fees and utility taxes about 31%. He said the county-estimated average assessed home value used for the notice is $450,000, and that the county-required disclosure shows the proposed increase would generate about $2.9 million in new revenue. Welch told the council the overall change to a typical taxpayer’s total bill (including county and school district levies) would be in the neighborhood of 1.7% as a result of the proposal.
Council members questioned line items and revenue assumptions during the presentation. Council discussion touched on expected declines in building-permit revenue and how that affects license-and-permit projections. Welch said final audited numbers are not yet available and that the city remains in the middle of its audit.
Next steps: Welch said the public hearing on the budget is scheduled for Aug. 19 and the county’s process requires specific notices be published. The council will hear public testimony at that hearing and then may take subsequent action in a following meeting.
