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Hooper council weighs $150,000 sheriff contract increase and a truth-in-taxation option
Summary
At an April 9 budget work session, Hooper City Council reviewed a county sheriff contract increase that would raise the city’s police line item by roughly $127,790 and discussed using a truth-in-taxation property tax increase to cover the cost, with staff warning of strict state timing and procedural requirements.
Hooper City Council discussed a proposed increase in the Weaver County sheriff contract that staff said would add roughly $127,790 to the city’s police budget and could require a property-tax increase under the state’s truth-in-taxation process.
At the council’s April 9 budget work meeting the chair said the city currently receives about $280,000 from local property tax while the school district receives “5 million from our residents,” using that comparison to argue the school district should shoulder more of the cost for student resource officers. The chair said the sheriff’s department has proposed two scenarios: six additional deputies or, in a higher-cost scenario, 10.
Cammy, the city staff member who prepared the draft budget, told the council she built $127,790 into the working numbers for policing and that the six-deputy option is the most likely near-term scenario. “If we do truth-in-taxation,” she said, “you can budget for the higher amount and later opt not to raise it if the county’s final number is lower.”
Council members pressed staff on timing and resident outreach. Staff said the county must be told by June 1 whether the city intends to pursue truth-in-taxation and that the city must adopt a tentative budget before the end of May. Members emphasized the importance of explaining the change to residents in dollar terms rather than percentages to reduce alarm: one councilor argued framing the increase as “about $4 a month” would be easier to communicate than a large percentage figure.
Councilors also explored alternatives, including asking the school district to pay more of SRO costs, creating a separate police district or adding a sheriff line item on the tax notice. Staff warned that procedural errors in the truth-in-taxation process can cause the state to deny a request.
The council directed staff to refine the six-deputy budget scenario, prepare outreach materials and return with revised figures at the next budget meeting scheduled for April 30. No formal vote was taken on a tax increase at the work session.
