Tentative budget preview highlights possible property tax increase to fund firefighters

Finance Director Denise Roy reviewed the budget summary and reported that "Sales tax revenues were currently at $10.6 million, and the total had been revised to approximately $11 million." Administrator Scott Darrington presented a draft data sheet on a potential property tax increase required under Truth in Taxation to maintain the City's service levels. He and Chief Drew Engemann said the additional revenue would allow Pleasant Grove to hire three full‑time firefighters to begin addressing persistent understaffing.

Chief Engemann described operational strain: the city often runs five firefighters per shift, whereas the department needs seven to provide reliable coverage for stacked ambulance calls and fire responses; he said approximately 348 shifts per year were not fully staffed and hiring additional full‑time personnel would provide more flexibility though would not instantly meet national staffing standards. The Council asked staff to prepare the Tentative Budget for the May 5 meeting and to conduct public outreach to explain how the proposed tax change would affect an average home.