June 2023 | Vol. 23 Iss. 06
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MAYOR’S TENTATIVE BUDGET PROPOSES A 30% PROPERTY TAX INCREASE
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By Sarah Morton Taggart | s.taggart@mycityjournals.com
I
n early May, Mayor Monica Zoltanski proposed a tentative budget for the fiscal year beginning on July 1, 2023 to the Sandy City Council. “I am asking for a property tax increase. There’s the headline,” Zoltanski said. “We cannot defer it any longer. I’m asking the average Sandy household to pay $9 a month more in property taxes. You’re going to have a very visceral reaction, as did I, when I learned what it really takes to run the city.” Most councilmembers did indeed express a strong reaction to the budget, which would raise the average homeowner’s tax bill by approximately $100 a year. The tax increase would create $4 million in new revenue to the $143-million dollar budget. “I am passionately disappointed in this tentative budget,” said Councilmember Marci Houseman. “Though you acknowledged that there was no disrespect intended, I believe the tentative budget dismisses the extensive time the council has spent on determining the way forward with our various capital projects.” Brian Kelley, the finance director for Sandy City, presented the budget along with guiding financial principles and revenue policies. “The priorities I showed in the presentation were directly from Council staff,” Kelley said. “We addressed compensation, which was the number one priority, we addressed fleet replacement….We addressed that fire department 3:2 staffing. And I know there were four votes against a property tax increase, but that did not make the top five. A property tax isn’t a priority for us either. We’re trying to strike a balance and still maintain good quality services that are exemplary. And we don’t Continued page 37
A top budget priority is funding the salaries of eight new firefighters/paramedics and creating new senior positions to incentivize training and allow for career advancement. (Photo courtesy Carrie Phillips/Sandy City Fire Department)
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