Brigham City adopts interim 2026–27 budget, approves enterprise transfer and sets property-tax ceiling

Brigham City leaders adopted an interim FY2026–27 budget on June 18 after multiple public hearings and work sessions, approving an enterprise-to-general-fund transfer policy and setting a property-tax ceiling that staff said is equivalent to a 4.81% increase.

The council opened public hearings earlier in the evening on a series of budget items, including the redevelopment agency (RDA) and municipal building authority (MBA) final budgets, a fiscal-year-end adjustment for FY2025–26 and the FY2026–27 interim budget. Mr. Jeff Schmidt, who presented many of the budget slides, described the enterprise-transfer policy as a way the city uses utility-generated revenue to support community services without implementing a large property-tax increase.

During debate, staff and council members discussed trade-offs between leaving more revenue in the utility fund for capital needs and stabilizing the general fund without sharp tax increases. The council heard that the mayor's original May proposal assumed a much larger tax-rate change, but certified county numbers reduced that to 3.38% (an earlier staff estimate of roughly $12.98 per year for a $400,000 home). After the council voted to restore a $55,000 parks allocation that had been cut in drafting the council's version, the interim-adoption vote set a higher ceiling tied to a 4.81% change, which staff estimated would raise taxes by about $18.48 annually for a $400,000 home.

Supporters argued the transfer and budget changes are necessary to maintain services and to fund one-time capital needs such as a fire-training facility and police dispatch improvements; opponents and some council members emphasized keeping more revenue in the utility fund to preserve water and power system maintenance. Philip Zniss, a resident and firefighter, told the council that a local training facility is "one of the most important things" for keeping firefighters prepared, urging support for the project.

Votes at a glance: - Redevelopment Agency FY2026–27 final budget: adopted (motion by Board member Smith; second by Board member Hip) - Municipal Building Authority FY2026–27 final budget: adopted (motion by Board member Smith; second by Board member Hip) - FY2025–26 budget adjustments (year-end): adopted - Enterprise fund (utility) transfer policy for FY2026–27 (13.5% transfer policy described in presentation): approved after public hearing - Interim FY2026–27 city budget (with parks allocation restored): adopted; council set a tax-rate ceiling equivalent to a 4.81% increase (staff estimate ~$18.48/year on a $400,000 home)

The council's interim adoption is subject to the formal truth-and-taxation process; staff said a final budget adoption and any final tax-rate action will occur after a public hearing on Aug. 13 and at the council's final budget meeting in August. Council members said restricted funds cannot be spent until final adoption, and staff noted that the enterprise-transfer requires public noticing and is reversible only through future public action.

What happens next: the council will reconvene later this summer for final budget adoption and the formal truth-and-taxation hearing; in the meantime, staff will continue refining revenue estimates and project priorities.