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Brian Head council directs staff to pursue Transportation Utility Fee study over property tax increase
Summary
Following public forums, the council gave staff direction to develop a Transportation Utility Fee (TUF) and analyze business impacts, discount structures, and examples from other municipalities before the June budget adoption.
After two public forums on road-funding options, the Brian Head Town Council gave staff direction March 24 to develop a Transportation Utility Fee (TUF) framework rather than pursue a property tax increase, while instructing staff to study business impacts and possible discounts.
Town Manager Bret Howser summarized feedback from the March 20 and March 23 forums and asked for guidance for budget preparation. Mayor Clayton Calloway said he opposed general obligation bonds as a "Band-Aid" solution and framed a central policy question about whether the town should adopt an "equitable" approach where fees follow usage and proximity to roads, or a "collective community" approach where residents share costs equally.
Council members expressed general preference for a TUF because it creates a dedicated funding source and offers flexibility to adjust charges over time. Council Member Larry Freeberg highlighted TUF's transparency benefits; Council Member Duane Nyen noted it could be adjusted to meet changing needs. Howser cautioned that businesses would face higher fees under a TUF and recommended targeted outreach to business owners and exploration of discount structures.
The council directed staff to research how other municipalities implemented TUFs, prepare impact analyses for the budget workshop, and return with proposed discount options for businesses before any final decision during the June budget adoption process.
