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

Anna Montoya, the city’s Budget Officer, told the council the tentative FY2026-27 budget includes a proposed property tax increase and read the required statutory notice into the record.

"Mr. Mayor and City Council, this agenda item is included to comply with Utah Code §59-2-919(4)(a)(i) that I, Anna Montoya, Budget Officer of American Fork City, hereby provide notice and an official statement that the fiscal year 2027 American Fork City tentative budget includes a proposed property tax rate increase," Montoya said. She said the city is proposing a 9% increase to city property tax revenue that would generate an estimated $660,000.

Montoya explained the revenue would fund staffing for a new south-side fire station: the Fire Department requested nine additional full-time firefighter/paramedics, with total additional staffing costs of $1,415,000. "The property tax increase will fund staffing for 4 of 9 full-time firefighter/paramedics," she said, and the remaining budget gap would be absorbed by the tentative budget unless additional actions are taken. Montoya said the 9% increase equates to about $2.83 per month (approximately $34 annually) for a median home valuation of $492,300.

City Administrator David Bunker reiterated the technical nature of the action: adopting the impact schedule does not itself finalize a tax increase. The council adopted Resolution No. 2026-05-18R to approve the property tax impact schedule; the motion was moved by Council Member Clark Taylor and seconded by Council Member Ryan Hunter, and the resolution was adopted by unanimous recorded vote of those present.

The council also scheduled further public process: the tentative budget was adopted separately and a public hearing is set for June 9, 2026; a Truth-in-Taxation hearing was scheduled for August 11, 2026 if the council proceeds to consider a rate above the county-certified rate.