Kaysville council adopts 14.12% property tax increase to fund public safety, field house and capital projects

The Kaysville City Council on Aug. 6 voted to adopt a certified property tax rate tied to the fiscal year 2027 budget that the city manager said would generate about $802,910 in additional annual property‑tax revenue, a 14.12 percent increase over current certified property‑tax revenue. The presiding officer opened the sole‑purpose Truth in Taxation hearing and explained that the extra revenue is needed to support police and fire operations, staffing, technology improvements and capital needs.

Finance director Marin Nelson summarized the FY2027 levy and budget, telling the council and public that “Total monthly increase is $16.60,” a figure the city used to show the combined average monthly impact of taxes and utility changes on a typical household. Nelson highlighted personnel changes — eliminating two administrative positions, adding a human‑resources specialist, converting the fire administrative assistant to full time and adding a part‑time police records clerk — and listed capital projects including an AV upgrade for council chambers, an emergency operations center renovation and water‑system work. Nelson said the city models the field‑house debt service at $368,000 a year on a 15‑year loan and that the loan is currently modeled as split 50/50 between the RAMP account and the general fund, a split the council said still needs final review.

Public commenters raised questions about long‑term projections and fund balance. Maureen Starkey asked why an internal May projection showing a much larger cumulative tax increase by FY28 had not been published and requested a five‑year tax‑rate outlook; Nelson said the May projection was a conservative, informational “worst‑case” that assumed drawing fund balance to zero and that the capital projects list and budget details are published in the tentative and modified tentative budget documents attached to the FY2027 packet. Council members argued the council had made aggressive cuts in recent months to reduce the proposed increase from earlier, larger proposals. After a motion and second, the council voted to adopt the certified tax rate and then to adopt the final FY2027 budget; council members on the record voted Aye and the motions passed.