Clinton certifies tax rate, adopts fee schedule; final budget adoption set for next week

The Clinton City Council voted to certify the city's FY2026-27 property-tax rate and approved several fee-schedule updates, while leaving final adoption of the budget for its next meeting.

At a public hearing on the final budget, staff told the council that new growth for the city totaled about $85,000; using that figure, staff described a working certified tax rate of 0.001985. Councilmember Chris Danson moved to adopt Resolution No. 16-26 to certify the tax rate and the motion passed on a roll-call vote 4-1. Mayor Marie Doherty said staff would correct the resolution language before next week's final adoption to match the county calculations.

The decision matters because state deadlines require certification of a tax rate by June 22 and final budget adoption by June 30. Finance Director Corey Christiansen and City Manager Trevor Cahoon told the public the budget was balanced this year primarily using a portion of the general-fund balance and targeted cuts: staff removed about $1.2 million of recommended expenditures and drew on reserves rather than increasing property taxes.

Council also unanimously approved updates to the city's fee schedule that will take effect if the underlying services begin as planned: a mandatory recycling rollout with carts delivered in August and first collection in September, a 60-day opt-out period, and a default $6-per-month charge for households that do not opt out (effective Oct. 1 for billing purposes); a one-time chicken-registration fee; and a recording fee for accessory dwelling units. The council also approved a passthrough dispatch fee to cover higher dispatch service costs if the city moves dispatch from Davis County to Layton; that passthrough would be charged only if the city completes the dispatch transition.

Council members and members of the public pressed staff about key line items: staff reduced ambulance revenue estimates and adjusted administrative-service fees and credit-card processing costs. The city is holding a $23,000 placeholder for a police K-9 and intends to fundraise first; Mayor Doherty said fundraising would reduce any draw on fund balance and staff would not make a purchase without further council authorization.

The council approved consent items including May 26 minutes and May accounts payable, and scheduled final consideration of the FY2026-27 budget for the next council meeting, when the formal budget adoption vote is expected.

What happens next: the council certified the tax rate, adopted fee updates, and will return next week to adopt the final budget after staff corrects the resolution language and completes any missing public-hearing items.