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American Fork Council adopts interim FY2027 budget amid debate over property tax and firefighter hires
Summary
Council approved an interim FY2027 budget that includes a proposed property tax increase and sparked a substantive discussion about prioritizing funding for new firefighter positions. Council stressed final budget decisions will follow an Aug. 11 Truth in Taxation hearing.
The American Fork City Council voted June 23 to adopt an interim Fiscal Year 2027 budget, a procedural step required to maintain city services beginning July 1 while the Council completes a Truth in Taxation process and final budget adoption.
Finance Director Anna Montoya presented the interim budget and said it includes a proposed property tax increase; a public hearing on the tax rate is scheduled for Aug. 11 and the final budget must be adopted by Aug. 31. Montoya told the Council the interim measure was necessary to meet statutory deadlines and to preserve operational continuity.
Council Member Tim Holley repeatedly urged prioritizing funding for additional firefighter positions regardless of whether the proposed tax increase is ultimately adopted, arguing firefighter hires should be funded ahead of discretionary expenditures. Holley said he would "prefer to prioritize funding the firefighter positions regardless of the outcome of the Truth in Taxation process" and suggested deferring some one-time items and re-evaluating wage increases if needed.
City Administrator David Bunker clarified the staff position, explaining the revenue tied to a proposed tax increase is placed in a separate fund and "the interim budget is intended to preserve the Council's flexibility and that no expenditures from those funds are authorized at this stage." Several Council members expressed confidence there was support to fund the firefighter positions in the final budget; Holley pressed for clearer public messaging about priorities.
Council Member Clark Taylor moved to approve Resolution No. 2026-06-26R adopting the interim budget; the motion passed with five votes in favor (Carroll, Holley, Hunter, John, Taylor). Montoya and staff emphasized the interim budget does not preclude revising priorities when the final budget is adopted after the Truth in Taxation hearing.
Next steps: the Council will hold the Truth in Taxation hearing on Aug. 11, after which it can amend the final FY2027 budget and make definitive funding decisions for firefighter positions and other priorities.
