July 2024 | Vol. 18 Iss. 7
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PROPOSED CITY BUDGET INCLUDES PROPERTY TAX AND WATER RATE INCREASES By Mimi Darley Dutton | m.dutton@mycityjournals.com
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raper’s Fiscal Year 2024-25 budget is $161 million, one million less than the previous year. But that doesn’t tell the whole story. There’s a proposed property tax increase for residents as well as an increase in water rates for those who get their water from the city (not WaterPro customers). Property tax, sales tax, permits and fees are the city’s four sources of revenue. “We run a lean, tight ship. I think the budget is fair, it accomplishes our goals with the least expenses we can have. The labor market is competitive and our goal is to pay our employees well and have good people working for us. The tax increase is about maintaining higher pay for public safety,” Mayor Troy Walker said. John Vuyk, Draper’s finance director, said the biggest increases within the budget are for public safety. Staffing has been increased by four personnel in the fire department “to maintain minimum staffing on a more consistent basis.” Within the police department, one new person will be hired, a part-time records position will transition to full-time, and a Deputy Police Chief will be added. “The other big piece for public safety is
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there’s a competition in the valley for a limited resource—police and firefighters. We have implemented new pay structures within the police and fire departments so we can remain competitive, keep our highly trained personnel, and hopefully recruit those who want to enter those fields to come and work in Draper,” Vuyk said. Walker has said Draper is never going to offer the highest pay for public safety in the valley, but he wants the city to be competitive. “This puts us competitive. It’s ever-evolving. It Continued page 9
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Draper’s Fire Department held an oath of office for new employees at a June city council meeting. The city council is pursuing a property tax increase as part of the 2024-25 budget to remain competitive on pay for public safety employees. Both the police and fire chiefs have explained that it’s a highly competitive job market and it’s expensive to lose an employee they’ve invested time and thousands of dollars in training. “The public deserves to have the right kind of public safety. The property tax increase is to fund the operations,” Mayor Troy Walker said. (Mimi Darley Dutton/City Journals)
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