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Brian Head council adopts FY2027 tentative budget that includes proposed $150,000 property tax increase; TUF hearing set
Summary
The Brian Head Town Council adopted a tentative FY2027 budget that includes a proposed $150,000 property tax increase (12.85% of the town's property tax revenue) to fund road maintenance, and set public hearings on the tentative budget and a proposed Transportation Utility Fee (TUF).
Brian Head Town Treasurer Shane Williamson told the council on May 12 that the fiscal year 2027 tentative budget “includes a proposed property tax increase.” The council adopted a resolution approving the tentative budget and a property tax impact schedule and set a public hearing for May 26, 2026, at 1:00 PM at Town Hall.
The proposed change would move the town’s property tax rate from 0.002328 to an estimated 0.002627 and generate roughly $150,000 in additional revenue for the town. Williamson said the increase represents about a 12.85% rise in Brian Head’s property tax revenue (Brian Head’s current property tax revenue is listed at $1,167,364 with a projected $1,317,364 if the change is adopted). The impact schedule estimates an increase of $82.27 per year for a primary residence with a market value of $500,000 (the figure incorporates the statutory 45% residential exemption); a $500,000 second home or business shows an estimated increase of $149.57.
Town Manager Bret Howser and several council members stressed that the percentage reflects only the town’s portion of property taxes and not the total tax bill paid by property owners, and urged staff to include explanatory materials at future meetings. Williamson and staff also noted a separate Truth in Taxation public hearing for August 18, 2026, at 6:00 PM (MDT) as required by Utah law; the town will notify the Utah State Tax Commission and the Iron County Auditor before June 1, 2026.
Concurrently, the council noticed a proposed Transportation Utility Fee (TUF) intended to contribute roughly $100,000 annually under a 60/40 funding split between TUF and property tax revenue. Bret Howser said staff recalibrated fee tiers after updating business square-footage data and that the engineering study supporting the fee would be posted online. The council set a public hearing for the TUF for May 26, 2026 at 1:00 PM to coincide with the tentative-budget hearing.
Council discussion included questions about whether alternatives to a property-tax increase—such as enhanced business license or permit fees—had been fully explored and whether fees tied to construction activity might better align cost and impact. Howser warned that certain flat fees might be treated as taxes under Utah law and explained constraints created by the Hutchinson rule and state fee case law: impact fees tied to capacity expansion generally cannot be used for maintenance.
Votes at a glance - Resolution No. 26-569-A (Adopt FY2027 tentative budget and property tax impact schedule; call public hearing May 26, 2026 @ 1:00 PM): adopted 5-0. - Resolution No. 26-570-B (Acknowledge Budget Officer statement and direct dissemination of impact schedule): adopted 5-0. - Resolution No. 26-571-C (Set Truth in Taxation hearing for Aug. 18, 2026; direct statutory notices): adopted 5-0. - Resolution No. 26-572 (Declare intent to consider Transportation Utility Fee; set public hearing May 26, 2026): adopted 5-0.
What happens next The tentative budget remains amendable before final adoption. A public hearing on May 26 will allow the council to take additional public testimony on the tentative budget and the proposed TUF; the Truth in Taxation hearing scheduled for August provides a statutory second opportunity to confirm or withdraw a property tax increase before it takes effect.
