Certified county tax rate and new growth cut Brigham City's proposed property tax increase to roughly 4.1%

Brigham City staff told the June 10 budget work session that the county’s certified tax rate and new‑growth collections reduced the city’s revenue gap compared with the mayor’s initial proposal. Staff said certified tax‑rate calculations and roughly $328,000 in new‑growth revenue mean the city now needs about $158,000—an increase of roughly 4.1%—rather than the roughly 12% increase previously discussed.

Finance material presented by staff showed the revised revenue picture and allowed council members to consider specific trade‑offs. Councilors debated reducing a proposed parks temporary‑employee budget increase (the mayor had proposed roughly $110,000 more) and several members recommended trimming that to roughly $55,000 as a partial offset. Staff agreed they could rerun the math to show the net effect on the overall percentage and transfers between funds.

Council also discussed the utility‑fund transfer and how raising the water base rate would change transfers back to the general fund; staff advised the council they could adjust the transfer percentage in the formal budget to keep general‑fund revenue stable while allowing more money to remain in the utility fund for capital work.

Staff noted a relatively small additional revenue item—about $12,000 from a UIA payment—that can be included in the revised fiscal picture, and reminded members that council does not have to finalize truth‑in‑taxation numbers tonight; public hearings remain scheduled and staff will present detailed numbers at the upcoming June 18 meeting and at truth‑in‑taxation later in August.

Council members asked staff to prepare alternative budget scenarios that reflect: (a) the $30 water base shown in the water discussion, (b) a parks increase trimmed to $55,000, and (c) options to reduce or reassign proposed new positions and transfers so the council can see the effect on the property‑tax percentage before the public hearings.