[0:47] Heat. Heat.
[2:02] Hey,
[2:16] honey.
[4:47] Heat. Heat.
[5:00] to the limited formal meeting for the
[5:01] Salic County, the Salic City Council. I
[5:03] don't know what that came from.
[5:07] That's embarrassing.
[5:10] >> I um maybe it's because I said county
[5:12] » I um maybe it's because I said county
[5:12] too many times today. Um so, welcome to
[5:16] today's meeting. We're happy uh to have
[5:19] you here whether you are in person or
[5:21] joining us online. Uh we hope that you
[5:24] continue to participate in whichever
[5:25] manner you feel the most comfortable.
[5:27] Today we are convening a limited formal
[5:30] meeting which means that this is not a
[5:31] standard formal meeting. Uh on June
[5:34] 16th, 2026 we adopted an uh interim tax
[5:39] levy an interim budget. Tonight, the
[5:42] council needs to consider action on the
[5:44] on the final step in the annual budget
[5:47] process for the city final budget
[5:50] adoption and truth and taxation hearing
[5:52] required by state law. Um, a truth and
[5:56] taxation hearing happens when any of the
[5:59] following takes place. The city raises
[6:01] property taxes, property tax
[6:04] stabilization, and judgment levy. The
[6:07] city is adopting a property tax increase
[6:10] to provide 13 uh,500,000
[6:15] of additional atalum tax revenue
[6:18] generated by the 9.16%
[6:22] property tax increase. Additional tax
[6:26] revenue is required for the city
[6:28] operations outlined in the property tax
[6:31] impact schedule including but not
[6:34] limited into public safety, public
[6:36] lands, youth and family programming,
[6:40] public utility matters matters and the
[6:42] city vehicle fleet maintenance.
[6:46] Although the hearing is a formal step
[6:48] required by state
[6:50] by the state, the council is always
[6:52] interested in hearing from the council.
[6:54] Feedback from the public helps the
[6:56] council make decisions in future budgets
[6:58] or even amendments to this year's
[7:01] budget. If you would like additional
[7:03] information regarding the property tax
[7:05] assessment, please visit the South Lake
[7:07] County Treasurers website
[7:09] www.saltcount.govtreasurer/
[7:13] GV/treasurer/propy
[7:16] taxes. Now, please join us for the
[7:20] pledge of allegiance.
[7:25] I aliance to the flag of the United
[7:28] States of America and to the republic
[7:31] for which it stands. One nation under
[7:34] God, indivisible with liberty and
[7:37] justice for all.
[7:40] >> Thank you. Before we continue through
[7:43] » Thank you. Before we continue through
[7:43] the agenda, I want to quickly go through
[7:45] the registration information
[7:47] and share the reasoning about how and
[7:50] why we chair these meetings the way we
[7:51] do. We welcome everyone regardless of
[7:54] your opinion or your side on an issue
[7:58] because we will have people from varying
[8:00] positions on important issues. The
[8:02] council goal is to make the meeting a
[8:04] place where where people feel safe and
[8:07] comfortable participating. This is the
[8:09] most local level of government and is a
[8:12] key value of ours to ensure that we have
[8:14] created a respectful and safe
[8:15] environment so that no one is
[8:18] intimidated out of free participation.
[8:21] This also allows us to ensure that the
[8:24] meeting can continue and that we can
[8:26] conduct the schedule city business. We
[8:29] invite each of you to contribute to this
[8:31] space to speak your mind and to welcome
[8:34] others do the same. In order to create
[8:37] this welcome welcoming and safe space,
[8:40] we will pause the meeting at any action
[8:43] that causes a disruption to our ability
[8:45] to conduct the meeting or any safety
[8:48] concern involving threats or unprotected
[8:51] speech. If there are repeated actions or
[8:54] comments, it may result in the rem
[8:57] removal from the meeting. To avoid
[8:59] intimidating others, please avoid the
[9:02] use of threatening and discriminatory
[9:04] language. Do not insult others based on
[9:06] religion, ethnicity, race, color,
[9:10] gender, sexual orientation, or physical
[9:13] ability. Whether you agree or disagree
[9:16] with someone's comment,
[9:18] clapping, cheering, shouting, booing,
[9:21] snapping, gesturing, obstructing, or
[9:24] discouraging others from commenting is
[9:27] not allowed.
[9:29] Just as a reminder, council members will
[9:32] refrain from reacting or responding to
[9:34] allow everyone to share their opinions
[9:37] freely. This is to keep our reactions
[9:39] from affecting your ability to share
[9:42] your opinion freely. If you would like
[9:44] to follow up with any of us, please see
[9:46] council staff in this in this room or
[9:49] you can message in zoom uh for contact
[9:52] information. When making your comments,
[9:54] please address the body and know an
[9:57] individual elected official. If you have
[9:59] a handout for the council, please raise
[10:02] your hand and council will assist you.
[10:05] Um staff is available during the meeting
[10:07] and after too. Uh so if you have
[10:09] questions or information that you you
[10:12] seek uh if you want the council rules
[10:15] that are posted on the chat and that are
[10:17] also posted outside this room. Um just
[10:21] as a reminder uh our public comment
[10:23] registration process. Individuals might
[10:25] register to comment on scheduled public
[10:28] hearing items until the hearing is
[10:30] closed. If you're in Zoom, you need to
[10:34] unm unmute your microphone when your
[10:37] name is called. Each person will have
[10:39] two minutes. If you reach the two-minute
[10:42] mark, the host will announce time and
[10:45] your microphone will be muted. We'll be
[10:48] calling those uh register in the order
[10:52] of sign up. If you need assistance in
[10:55] the room right here, please raise your
[10:57] hand. Staff will assist you. If you need
[11:00] assistance when you're online, contact
[11:02] the administrator of the meeting and
[11:04] they will assist you. If you have
[11:06] technical issues, staff support and zoom
[11:09] can assist you. Uh and that's ash from
[11:12] our staff.
[11:14] Just if you're able if you're not able
[11:16] to share all your comment in those two
[11:18] minutes, um you can send us the rest of
[11:21] the comment uh via email. You can also
[11:24] mail it to us. Um, and the contact
[11:27] information for that is at
[11:29] slc.govcounsel.
[11:32] If you have a handout, please notify the
[11:34] council staff uh before uh you begin.
[11:37] So, let's uh begin with the the item on
[11:40] the agenda, which is uh the truth in
[11:42] taxation public hearing for fiscal year
[11:45] 2026 2027.
[11:48] Um, before we begin taking comments, I'm
[11:51] going to turn the time to Jennifer
[11:52] Bruno, Council Executive Director, to
[11:54] give us a short introduction. Jen, thank
[11:57] you, Mr. Chair. Um, as you mentioned,
[11:59] we're having a truth and taxation
[12:01] hearing tonight as a requirement of
[12:03] state law based on the proposed interim
[12:06] fiscal year 2027 budget, which includes
[12:10] $13.5 million in additional property tax
[12:12] revenue. Uh the property tax impact
[12:15] schedule which lists all of the proposed
[12:18] uses for the proposed tax increase is on
[12:20] our council website at
[12:22] link.slc.govslcfy27.
[12:27] Thank you.
[12:29] >> Thank you Jennifer. Um
[12:32] » Thank you Jennifer. Um
[12:32] Isaac, please start with our first
[12:33] public comment.
[12:36] >> Thank you Mr. Chair. We have four people
[12:37] » Thank you Mr. Chair. We have four people
[12:37] registered to speak to this item. The
[12:39] first will be Brooke Brin, followed by
[12:41] Eric Miller, and then Susanna Arguo.
[12:45] >> Um, so
[12:49] I bought my house 1990 on the budget.
[12:53] Let's move on quickly to the water bills
[12:56] and the city bills.
[12:59] In 2005, I paid
[13:03] 26, let's see,
[13:08] $26.50
[13:11] in the winter time for my bill. This
[13:15] last month year,
[13:18] $136.
[13:20] It's up 523%.
[13:23] In the summertime
[13:26] in 2025, I paid a little over $40 for my
[13:29] water bill. This year,
[13:33] 167 plus, up 417%.
[13:39] I paid I used 30% less water this year
[13:43] in June, 34% less in July, and I paid
[13:48] more for both
[13:51] >> time
[13:55] Thank you.
[13:58] Just as a reminder, please uh if you
[14:00] haven't been able to finish your comment
[14:02] and the two minutes, please make it uh
[14:05] you have an opportunity to share with
[14:06] staff to make it to us. Next comment
[14:10] >> next will be Susanna Argu followed by R.
[14:13] » next will be Susanna Argu followed by R.
[14:13] Scott Birdsaw and then back to Brooke
[14:16] Bren. Susanna is here in person.
[14:19] >> Thank you to all. My name is Susan
[14:21] » Thank you to all. My name is Susan
[14:22] Arillio and I'm really happy to come to
[14:25] again to Sole City, my favorite city
[14:28] after I visit so many states because the
[14:31] culture, the cleanness of the city, our
[14:35] people, our government and diversity.
[14:40] I I can tell you increasing the property
[14:43] taxes will not be good at all. We know
[14:47] that the increase of everything is up.
[14:50] everything. But if we do that, many
[14:53] people will decline in many ways. Will
[14:56] it be poverty so much? Probably we can
[14:59] reach 100% poverty plus and no able to
[15:06] you know have the education that we
[15:07] needed because we are paying the
[15:09] property taxes. When that happen affect
[15:12] everybody. The people who are renting
[15:15] the places who already at this moment
[15:19] they are facing so much struggles by
[15:22] myself for instance you know I have my
[15:25] degree I should be in better position
[15:28] but what is going on right now I cannot
[15:30] handle the financials right now because
[15:33] everything is expensive. You can imagine
[15:36] how much is increase in property. So the
[15:38] owners of the property also increase the
[15:40] rent. So I don't think so is is good to
[15:44] do that because everything will be
[15:46] increased. Our city that is wonderful
[15:48] many people coming over the world to
[15:50] live here because they say oh here is
[15:52] amazing because they coming and see that
[15:54] everything they can buy it. many people
[15:56] from California scares thousands of
[15:58] people but I believe that the government
[16:01] do should do something because anything
[16:04] is not anything about money is about the
[16:07] good living to have good society
[16:11] to care about people because we need a
[16:14] good government that they can start up
[16:17] for the people who really need it. Thank
[16:19] you.
[16:22] Next will be R. Scott Birdsaw followed
[16:24] by Brooke Brin. R. Scott is here in
[16:27] person.
[16:30] Okay. So, I'm supposed to tell you my
[16:32] name, R. Scott Birdsaw, and I live in
[16:34] Mapleton, so I'm being taxed here
[16:36] without representation.
[16:39] Um,
[16:42] I would really like to know why. I
[16:44] didn't even realize this this is about a
[16:46] water allocation if that's what it is.
[16:48] I'm just going by what I was told on my
[16:50] tax bill or my estimated tax bill that
[16:53] just recently came.
[16:55] I just don't understand why anything
[16:57] needs to increase by 12% from one year
[17:00] to the next.
[17:02] And if you guys have got some material
[17:05] for me to review, maybe it makes sense.
[17:08] But at this point,
[17:11] the fact that I get a notice from the
[17:13] the tax collector
[17:16] and I don't even know exactly what
[17:19] category, it just says Salt Lake City is
[17:22] going up 12%.
[17:24] And there's also a uh
[17:27] an issue for a what does it say? A
[17:30] judgment levy that's being created out
[17:32] of whole cloth. I don't know what that's
[17:34] about either. It would be nice if we
[17:37] knew those things and then maybe we
[17:40] could discuss them, but it sounds like a
[17:42] decision is about to be made without me
[17:45] knowing anything about what the decision
[17:47] really involves.
[17:53] » And next will be Brook Brin who is here
[17:55] in person.
[18:00] I'm Brooke Bren, a mother sold bread
[18:03] maker and homeowner in Rose Park.
[18:06] Despite my family's economic
[18:07] desperation, I currently have $25 in my
[18:10] bank account. I'm not here to complain
[18:12] about the increased taxes. I'm here
[18:15] because I feel trust has been betrayed.
[18:21] I want to trust the city.
[18:24] If there was a way, I would want to
[18:26] donate.
[18:30] But the budget betrays the city's trust
[18:32] in three major ways.
[18:35] Matt, uh, the most significant tax
[18:37] increases, police,
[18:40] uh, not tax, budget increases, the
[18:42] increased budget feels like it's paired
[18:44] with the increased taxes. So, uh,
[18:46] police, mass surveillance, and the
[18:48] justice system. We have a 5% increase to
[18:51] the police budget, which is one of the
[18:53] most significant sections of the city
[18:57] budget. Uh, living in Rose Park, many of
[18:59] my law-abiding neighbors fear the
[19:00] police. I was confused by that for a
[19:03] while until I realized that a lot of my
[19:04] high school bullies are cops.
[19:09] And then I saw that cops are about twice
[19:10] as likely to beat their wives. I can't
[19:13] help but wonder how many cops enjoy the
[19:15] violence and their qualified immunity.
[19:18] About $500,000 of that police budget
[19:21] will increase
[19:23] um the funding to flock cameras. Why are
[19:25] we handing the reigns of mass
[19:26] surveillance over to known abusers?
[19:29] We already hear stories of cops using it
[19:31] to stalk their exes.
[19:34] Besides, I thought a hearing for this
[19:37] was scheduled for September 15th.
[19:40] Is that hearing simply theater?
[19:43] Have you already decided?
[19:45] There's a bunch more, but
[19:48] please, if you're not going to allocate
[19:50] the funds yourselves, allow people who
[19:53] care to donate.
[19:58] That was the final register commenter
[19:59] for this item.
[20:10] » Thank you all of those that made
[20:12] comments. Uh, and I need a motion.
[20:17] » Mr. Chair, I move that the council close
[20:18] the public hearing and adopt an
[20:19] ordinance approving the final tax final
[20:22] rate of tax levy for all city funds,
[20:24] including the library fund on all real
[20:27] and personal property within Salt Lake
[20:29] City, made taxable by law for fiscal
[20:31] year 2026 27.
[20:35] » Second.
[20:36] >> Council member Dugan for the motion and
[20:38] » Council member Dugan for the motion and
[20:38] council member Petro for the second. Um,
[20:41] is there any discussion?
[20:45] Council member W.
[20:47] just appreciate the people who came out
[20:49] to speak. Um we did in the our budget
[20:53] adoption t adopting the tenative budget
[20:56] talked a lot about um the issues facing
[20:59] the city, the affordability issues that
[21:01] we're facing. Um I don't want to repeat
[21:04] those. Um those are are part of the
[21:06] public record from the last meeting. I
[21:07] hope that you'll take a minute to listen
[21:09] to them. I'm also willing to stay and
[21:12] answer a few questions um after this
[21:14] meeting. People have them. Thank you.
[21:18] >> I
[21:20] » I
[21:20] thank you for for for your comments, uh,
[21:22] Council Member Warden. I I do want to
[21:25] run down, um, you know, that this and I
[21:28] know that for the discussions, uh, to
[21:32] the lengthy discussions this year on the
[21:34] budget, um, they were not easy. Um, I'm
[21:37] trying to, uh, balance the budget with
[21:40] less revenue and increasing cost. And I
[21:43] remember some of the facts and I was
[21:45] trying to look at them because they were
[21:46] so shocking. Um the the you know asphalt
[21:49] that everybody you know is asking us all
[21:52] the time for better streets used to cost
[21:55] $44 a ton in 2020 and now it cost you
[21:58] know $64 a ton right for us. Um and the
[22:02] the the price of gas for our own
[22:05] vehicles um has increased and the cost
[22:08] of equipment for firefighters you know
[22:10] went up a third. Um and then trying to
[22:15] balance the needs of a growing city with
[22:17] less revenue uh created a lot of
[22:21] you know created uh constraints and and
[22:24] uh competing uh competing needs. Um, and
[22:28] I I do appreciate the administration and
[22:31] and pretty much fi finding, you know,
[22:33] $13 million in savings and and looking
[22:37] into every single department and trying
[22:39] to reduce the budget to see if we can
[22:42] make it without an increase. Um, and and
[22:47] uh, you know, it turned out to be that
[22:49] it was not possible with with the budget
[22:52] that we had in front of us. and and um
[22:56] there is the impact to all of our
[22:57] neighbors is heavy. Um and I don't think
[23:00] anybody here took it lightly. Um and if
[23:02] the many discussions we had in the last
[23:04] few months, uh there are public records
[23:06] of them. Um we we we struggle a lot in
[23:10] trying to find consensus and find a
[23:12] budget that makes sense. Um and uh I um
[23:16] I appreciate the discussions and it's
[23:18] not lost on on any of us and certainly
[23:20] not not to me about how hard it is to
[23:23] make ends meet uh in in this in this uh
[23:27] time. So I wanted to end with that at
[23:30] least for me. Um I uh I appreciate
[23:33] everybody. I have a motion by council
[23:35] member Dugan and a second by council
[23:37] member Petro. All those in favor say I.
[23:39] I.
[23:40] >> I.
[23:41] » I.
[23:41] >> Any oppose? Any abstensions?
[23:45] » Any oppose? Any abstensions?
[23:45] Okay, this motion carries unanimously.
[23:48] This concludes our limited formal city
[23:49] council meeting. This meeting now is
[23:51] adjourned.
[23:53] >> Now is not adjourned.
[24:24] Council close the public hearing and
[24:26] adopt an ordinance approving the final
[24:28] budget for Salt Lake City for fiscal
[24:30] year 2026 2027, including the property
[24:34] tax increase outlined in the property
[24:35] tax impact schedule. The final budget
[24:38] action includes a tax rate adjustment
[24:40] exceeding the certified tax rate and
[24:43] will release revenue funds received
[24:44] through the tax rate increase from the
[24:47] restricted fund created at the time of
[24:49] the interim budget adoption.
[24:52] >> Second. I have a motion by council
[24:54] » Second. I have a motion by council
[24:54] member Warden and a second by council
[24:56] member Dugan. Is there any discussion?
[25:02] » Going to call the question. All those in
[25:03] favor say I.
[25:04] >> I.
[25:04] » I.
[25:04] >> I.
[25:05] » I.
[25:05] >> Any oppose? Any abstensions?
[25:09] » Any oppose? Any abstensions?
[25:09] This motion carries unanimously. Sorry
[25:11] for the confusion. This is a new
[25:13] process. It's a new process that the
[25:15] state has required us to do right now.
[25:17] So I um it's my fault for not paying
[25:20] attention. So um that motion carries
[25:23] unanimously.
[25:25] Uh and now uh this time is correct. This
[25:29] concludes our limited formal city
[25:30] council meeting. This meeting now stands
[25:32] adjourned.