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American Fork budget pegs a 9% property-tax adjustment to help staff interim fire station
Summary
City staff proposed a FY2027 budget that includes a proposed property-tax adjustment representing about 9% of property-tax revenue (~$660,000) to partially fund additional fire staffing for an interim Station 53; staff estimated the average household impact at roughly $34 per year. Council discussed messaging, timing, and resident impacts.
Anna Montoya, the city’s finance director, opened the work session’s budget review and described the proposal as the final budget work session before public review and interim adoption. She told the council that the proposed budget currently shows expenditures exceeding revenues by about $4 million because of one-time capital improvements, including a $4 million earmark for the Fitness Center, to be funded from reserves.
Montoya outlined revenue and spending details: taxes make up roughly 66% of General Fund revenues, with sales tax about 37% (approximately $14.9 million) and property taxes shown in two components to separately identify any proposed tax increase. She said the proposed property-tax adjustment represents about 9% of property-tax revenue—roughly $660,000. Based on current estimates using an example average residential value of $492,000, staff estimated the tax-adjustment impact at about $34 per year for the average household ($2.50 per month). Montoya emphasized that the figures remain draft and will be updated when new values arrive in June.
The proposed tax adjustment is explicitly tied to public-safety staffing: Montoya explained staff intend the incremental revenue to help fund additional positions for fire services, noting that fully staffing a new station typically costs more than the proposed increase would cover. Fire Chief Aaron Brems told the council the estimated cost to fully staff Station 53 with nine personnel is approximately $1.4–$1.5 million; the proposed $660,000 would only partially fund that need and could require a phased staffing approach if no other revenues are identified. Council members pressed staff to clarify messaging so residents understand that the proposed increase is intended for fire/rescue and ambulance staffing and geographic service coverage rather than merely adding a “third station.”
Council members raised concerns about resident affordability. Council Member Tim Holley said residents are already facing inflationary pressures and cautioned against adding further burden. Council Member Clark Taylor and others discussed tradeoffs—whether to prioritize public safety staffing or to look for efficiency and service reductions elsewhere—and asked staff to provide a combined analysis showing total household impacts (city taxes, utilities, and regional fees) ahead of the interim budget vote. Montoya said staff will present updated figures and plan a public hearing (with remote participation) if the Council pursues a truth-in-taxation path; any approved increase would not take effect until Sept. 1 and, by law, cannot be spent until formally adopted.
The work session did not include a formal council vote; staff emphasized the budget remains a fluid proposal pending public input and the interim budget presentation on May 12.
