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Brian Head Council drops proposed $150,000 FY2027 property tax increase, asks staff to find alternatives
Summary
After public comment and staff briefings on road funding, the Brian Head Town Council directed staff to remove a proposed $150,000 property tax increase from the FY2027 tentative budget and to seek alternative funding for pavement and gravel-road maintenance.
Mayor Clayton Calloway and the Brian Head Town Council on May 12 directed staff not to include a proposed $150,000 property-tax increase in the town's Fiscal Year 2027 budget, citing recent difficult snow seasons and strain on local businesses and residents.
Town Treasurer Shane Williamson had told the council the tentative budget adopted at the May 12 meeting included "a proposed property tax increase of $150,000, representing an estimated 12.85 percent increase to the proposed tax rate." He also noted a roughly $10,000 increase in the Brian Head Days line for a planned drone show.
During the public hearing, cabin owner Thom Thompson, who lives in Rainbow Meadows, questioned the rationale for a town tax increase because his property receives county-provided services. Council and staff clarified that the proposed increase affected only properties inside Brian Head town limits and not parcels outside the town.
Council members then discussed road funding needs and community sentiment. Bret Howser, the town manager, said planned paving work on Ridgeview, Steam Engine and other streets this summer and next would likely exhaust the town's accumulated capital for roads. Council Member Duane Nyen noted he had committed $40,000 from contingency to buy road-processing equipment that would produce the equivalent of about 2.5 miles of subgrade material at lower cost than hauling in crushed rock. Council members also highlighted the heavy cost of snow removal, including about $100,000 annually on plow blades and salt.
Despite acknowledging the long-term risk of deferred maintenance, council members said community support for a near-term tax increase was lacking. "I agree we need to identify alternatives so we don't end up in the same place next year," Council Member Larry Freeberg said; Council Member Martin Tidwell said feedback from businesses and homeowners had not been supportive.
Rather than adopt the proposed levy, the council reached a consensus to remove the property-tax increase from the FY2027 budget and directed staff to explore other funding options for pavement management and gravel-road maintenance.
Next steps: staff will return a budget on June 9 without the proposed property-tax increase and with directions to pursue alternative funding approaches for road work.
