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South Salt Lake adopts interim 2026-27 budgets and final general-purpose tax rate; Public Safety increase draws dissent
Summary
The South Salt Lake City Council approved interim budgets for multiple funds and adopted a final general-purpose tax rate on June 17, 2026. Mayor Wood said a proposed 33% Public Safety fund increase equated to a 13% property tax increase overall; the Public Safety ordinance drew three 'No' votes.
The South Salt Lake City Council on June 17 adopted interim budgets for fiscal year 2026–27 and set a final tax rate for the city’s general purposes while voting separately on a proposed Public Safety tax rate.
Mayor Wood told the council that “the proposed 33% increase pertained strictly to the Public Safety Service Fund, which translated to a 13% property tax increase for the City overall.” He said the administration also proposed $11.7 million in budget reductions to cover shortfalls, including $1.4 million from the General Fund, $1.3 million from the Public Safety Fund and $8.6 million from Capital Improvements, and that no transfers between funds were used to make those reductions.
Council Member Clarissa Williams moved to approve the ordinance adopting the final tax rate for general purposes; the measure passed on a unanimous roll-call vote. A separate ordinance to adopt the Public Safety Service Special Revenue Fund as proposed passed with a 4–3 vote (Glad, Bynum, Jones, Williams: Yes; Thomas, Mitchell, deWolfe: No). Council members who opposed the Public Safety ordinance cited concerns about raising taxes during current economic conditions.
Interim Finance Director Joy Manwiller presented amendments that included a capital grant entry for neighborhood improvements, an accounting transfer moving Public Works bond interest to the Debt Service Fund, and reductions to water and sewer expenditures intended to maintain at least a 5% unrestricted fund balance. The council opened a public hearing on the amendment at 7:47 p.m.; no one spoke and the hearing closed at 7:48 p.m. The budget amendment ordinance was then adopted by unanimous roll call.
The council approved interim budgets for a range of funds in separate motions — General Fund, Lease Debt Service, Capital Improvements, Public Works Campus Construction, Water Utility, Waste Water, Solid Waste, Stormwater Utility, Insurance Reserve and Transportation Utility. Most passed unanimously; the Transportation Utility Fund recorded a 5–2 vote with Council Members Thomas and Mitchell voting No.
The council is scheduled to reconvene on July 8, 2026. The adopted interim budgets and tax-rate ordinances will govern city operations while the council continues final budget work.
