Draper homeowners with an $807,000 home will pay about $8.66 more per month if the City Council approves a 25% property tax rate increase Tuesday, Aug. 18, at 7 p.m. at City Hall.

The binding vote follows a Truth in Taxation hearing Wednesday, Aug. 12, where 19 residents spoke against the proposal, as we reported the next day. No vote was taken at that hearing.

Finance Director John Vuyk's presentation laid out where the money goes. The city would hire three firefighters at a cost of $415,000 in personnel, replacing $250,000 in overtime spending. The net budget hit: $165,000. The new positions are meant to reduce reliance on overtime to meet minimum staffing and cut firefighter fatigue.

The other major line item: annual playground maintenance funding jumps from $130,000 to $200,000 to keep up with risk and insurance mandates requiring regular equipment replacements.

What it costs you

The proposed rate rises from 0.000902 to 0.001128. For a home assessed at $807,000 in Salt Lake County, that's $8.66 more per month, or about $104 per year. A business valued at $1 million would pay $19.50 more monthly, according to city budget documents.

Salt Lake County's certified-rate notice uses a higher average home value of $941,000, putting the annual increase at $116.97.

The increase would generate roughly $2.7 million in new property tax revenue citywide.

Why the city says it needs the money

Mayor Troy Walker proposed the hike as part of what city officials described in an Aug. 12 letter as a "balanced, multi-year approach" to fund public safety without sudden larger increases. Property taxes currently cover less than half of Draper's police and fire costs, and the city has been drawing from fund balances to cover the gap.

Without the increase, the city would pull nearly $19 million from reserves this fiscal year. With it, that draw drops to $16.5 million.

This is Draper's third consecutive year holding a Truth in Taxation hearing. The city implemented its first rate increase in 17 years in 2024 to address police and fire staffing.

Billy Hesterman, president of the Utah Taxpayers Association, said in an Aug. 4 press release naming Draper among repeat filers: "When an entity returns for a third or fourth consecutive year, taxpayers deserve an especially clear explanation. Government should not need to ask residents for additional revenue year after year without presenting a credible long-term plan to control spending."

How to weigh in

Council members Kathryn Dahlin, Michael Green, Bryn Heather Johnson, Tasha Lowery and Fred Lowry will cast the final vote. The public hearing begins at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 18, in the City Council Chambers at 1020 E. Pioneer Road. Written comments can be sent to [email protected].