Draper residents have one scheduled opportunity to speak publicly about Mayor Troy Walker's proposed 25% property tax rate increase before the City Council votes on it Aug. 18.

The Truth in Taxation hearing is Wednesday, Aug. 12, at 6 p.m. in the City Council Chambers at City Hall, 1020 E. Pioneer Rd. Residents who can't attend in person can join via Zoom (Meeting ID: 894 6642 4795, passcode: 413389) or email written comments to [email protected].

The official agenda, posted Aug. 7 by City Recorder Nicole Smedley, confirms the hearing covers both the Salt Lake County and Utah County portions of Draper as separate agenda items.

What's on the table

Walker is proposing the rate increase for the 2026–27 fiscal year. The city says property taxes cover less than half of its police and fire costs and that it has been drawing from fund balances to close the gap.

For the average Draper homeowner with a home valued at $807,000, the increase would add about $8.66 per month to the city portion of the tax bill. For the average business valued at $1 million, the monthly increase would be $19.50.

Draper's current rate of 0.000936 remains one of the lowest in Salt Lake County, according to the city. This is the third consecutive year the city has held a Truth in Taxation hearing, after implementing its first rate increase in 17 years in 2024.

Rules for public comment

Each speaker gets three minutes. Zoom participants must click "raise hand" when the mayor opens the hearing, then state their name and address before their time begins. Longer comments should be submitted in writing to [email protected].

Only comments directly related to the tax rate proposals will be accepted Wednesday.

Residents needing disability accommodations should contact Smedley at (801) 576-6502 or [email protected] at least 24 hours before the meeting.

What happens next

No vote will be taken Wednesday. The council's final budget vote, which includes the tax rate decision, is scheduled for Tuesday, Aug. 18, at 7 p.m.

In an Aug. 4 news release, Utah Taxpayers Association president Billy Hesterman urged residents statewide to show up at their local hearings. "Property-tax increases should never happen on autopilot," Hesterman said. "We strongly encourage Utahns to attend and make their voices heard."

As we reported Aug. 6, the proposed increase is part of what the city describes as a multi-year approach to stable public safety funding. The certified tax rate is due to the county auditor by Sept. 1.