Council adopts property-tax impact schedule for proposed 9% city tax increase to staff new south-side fire station

The American Fork City Council on May 12 adopted a property tax impact schedule that describes a proposed 9% increase to the city portion of property tax intended to help staff a south-side fire station.

Finance Director Anna Montoya told the council the proposed increase would generate about $660,000 in new city property-tax revenue. She said the Fire Department requested nine additional full‑time firefighter/paramedics at an estimated total annual cost of $1,415,000; the property-tax increase would fund four of those nine positions, with the remaining $755,000 to be covered in the budget. Montoya noted the proposal equates to roughly $34 annually — about $2.83 per month — for a median home valued at $492,300.

Montoya framed the steps as compliance with new state transparency requirements under HB236 and the Truth-in-Taxation process. "The purpose of the legislation was to promote transparency regarding a property tax increase, bring the public into the truth in taxation process as early as possible," she said as part of the formal notice recorded in the minutes.

Council Member Clark Taylor moved to adopt Resolution No. 2026-05-18R adopting the fiscal year 2026–2027 property tax impact schedule; Council Member Ryan Hunter seconded the motion and the resolution was adopted (Yes: Holley, Hunter, John, Taylor; Absent: Carroll). The vote records the council’s formal adoption of the impact schedule; subsequent meetings and a public hearing are part of the Truth-in-Taxation process before any final tax rate is set.

Next steps: the council has adopted the impact schedule as required to notify the public; a tentative budget and additional hearings will determine any final rate and implementation details.