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Farmington adopts tentative FY2027 budget, proposes 5.84% property tax increase to fund firefighters and operations
Summary
The Farmington City Council adopted its tentative Fiscal Year 2027 budget and approved a resolution to notify the county of a proposed 5.84% property tax increase (about $300,000) to support firefighter wages and other ongoing costs; public hearings are set for June 16 and August 18.
Finance Director Levi Ball presented the city nd council adopted the tentative Fiscal Year 2027 municipal budget after a work-session review of departmental requests and staffing needs.
Ball said the tentative budget anticipates staffing as the largest expense at $12.8 million and includes a 2% cost-of-living adjustment, a 3% merit pool and targeted market-based pay increases. The draft increases authorized headcount from 113 to 119, adding three full-time firefighters, a parks maintenance worker, a facilities maintenance foreman, a senior accountant and a Lagoon-funded police officer. "This is the tentative budget, and there is a lot of opportunity to discuss, research, and change things," Ball said.
As part of the packet the council received a property tax impact schedule showing a proposed 5.84% increase that staff estimated would generate about $300,000 in new revenue. Finance Director Ball said the increase would help cover ongoing firefighter wages and benefits and support preparation to open a new fire station. Ball briefed the council on public-notice and Truth in Taxation requirements and said the tentative budget and schedules will be available online in the staff report ahead of the June public hearing.
City Manager Brigham Mellor and Councilmember Scott Isaacson discussed alternatives to the tax increase, including a one-time use of the General Fund balance (projected at 28% in the draft). Mellor cautioned that using fund balance for ongoing expenses could require larger tax increases later; Isaacson asked staff to highlight to residents that only Farmington—or a typical property tax bill would see the city—omponent change, not the entire multi-jurisdiction bill.
The council voted to adopt the tentative budget and to approve a resolution of intent under section 59-2-919(4)(b)(i) of the Utah Code, noting the proposed increase exceeds the certified rate. The council set public hearings for June 16 and August 18 to receive public input before final adoption.
The tentative budget adoption is procedural and does not finalize rates; the page of next steps includes public hearings and subsequent formal adoption actions.
