Council approves interim budget and proposes property‑tax increase to fund sheriff deputies and city services

During public hearings the council considered a proposed property‑tax increase to generate approximately $6.96 million in additional city property‑tax revenue. Staff explained the change would raise Eagle Mountain’s city property‑tax revenue from roughly $2.84 million to about $9.80 million and that the estimated average annual increase to a $500,000 homeowner would be about $320, roughly $26–$30 per month. Councilmembers said a major driver for the proposal is public safety: the city’s contract with the Utah County Sheriff’s Office requires more deputies to serve the fast‑growing population, and staff estimated the proposal would fund one sergeant and six deputies (salaries, vehicles and equipment), roughly $1.25M of the proposed increase.

Residents spoke at the public hearing with mixed reactions: several urged the council to fund public safety and to correct long‑running understaffing and underpaid city employees; others warned about the burden on recent homebuyers and urged transparency about what the revenue will fund. Council members emphasized the need to diversify revenue (commercial development and data centers are anticipated to expand the tax base) but said that is not an immediate replacement for the services needed now. The council adopted the interim budget and the proposed certified tax rate in a recorded vote (4–1). Staff published the full budget online and committed to continue reviewing revenues and impacts as commercial revenues mature.