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Grantsville council trims proposed FY2027 tax hike; directs staff to craft tentative budget with 5% increase
Summary
After discussing revisions and possible use of water-credit proceeds, the council instructed staff to prepare a tentative FY2027 budget assuming a roughly 5% property tax increase and temporary use of fund balance while updated figures are finalized.
Finance Director Aspen Clegg presented revisions to the proposed Fiscal Year 2027 budget and the Property Tax Impact Schedule at the May 18 council meeting, and Councilmembers directed staff to prepare a tentative budget assuming a five percent property tax increase while final numbers are completed.
Clegg told the Council staff had reduced line items and departmental requests, noting staff reductions of roughly $582,000 and that eliminating all COLA increases would reduce expenditures by about $193,000. She said the budget did not depend on a separate $18 million water-credit transaction and that transfer to the Capital Projects Fund had been pared to about $386,000 to cover a Scenic Slopes Park bond payment. She also explained that the originally published Property Tax Impact Schedule—required by Truth in Taxation rules—reflected an 84 percent increase over the certified rate that was no longer the Council’s direction.
Councilmembers debated alternatives. Councilmember Derek Dalton advocated using a portion of anticipated water-credit proceeds to offset the deficit and preferred limiting a property tax increase to about five percent rather than a larger one-time jump; he said a five percent increase would raise roughly $104,000 and increase taxes on the average $530,000 home by about $1.66 per month. Councilmember Brittany Skinner supported maintaining COLA increases for employees and favored a blended approach using a portion of fund balance and other sources to reduce resident impacts. Several councilmembers reiterated that water-credit proceeds were intended as long-term community investment and favored preserving flexibility for future infrastructure and grant-matching uses.
Because the Council asked staff to prepare the tentative or interim budget prior to June 30, Grantsville will present updated Property Tax Impact figures at a later meeting and proceed with the Truth in Taxation process if the Council ultimately adopts a rate above the certified tax rate. At the May 18 meeting the Council voted to table Resolution 2026-37 (declaring intent to consider increasing property tax revenue and setting a public hearing) until the June 3 meeting to allow staff to finalize updated numbers.
