The Heber City Council moved toward final adoption of the fiscal year 2027 budget and a proposed property tax increase on Aug. 18, 2026, following a series of public hearings and workshops held throughout the summer. The council's recent actions address a proposed tax rate that exceeds the certified rate, a process governed by state laws requiring budget adoption before Sept. 1.
Public Hearings and Tax Proposals
The council's recent proceedings began with a special meeting on Aug. 5, 2026, specifically convened for a Truth in Taxation public hearing. During that meeting, Finance Manager Sara Nagel presented a statement regarding the proposed property tax increase and provided a presentation on the proposed property tax impact schedule.
The Aug. 5 hearing allowed the public to provide feedback on Heber City's consideration to levy a tax rate that exceeds the certified tax rate. Following the hearing, the council announced it would consider the formal adoption of the property tax increase on Aug. 18, 2026.
Council Work Meeting Details
During a work meeting held on Aug. 18, 2026, the council addressed several legislative and administrative items. The agenda for that session included a discussion on the Blue Sign Annexation located at 2600 N Hwy 40 and a presentation by Steve Waldrip from the Governor's Office regarding state housing plans and legislation.
The council also reviewed the Finch Creek MDA Amendment and discussed the Tava-Highlands Public Infrastructure District (PID). Other business included a public safety update from Police Chief Parker Sever and the consideration of several resolutions, including Resolution 2026-18 to adopt a certified tax rate for fiscal year 2027 and Resolution 2026-20 to adopt the final fiscal year 2027 budget, which includes the Heber City CRA.
State Legal Requirements
The timeline for these decisions is dictated by the Utah Uniform Fiscal Procedures Act. According to Utah Code Section 10-6-118, which became effective on May 6, 2026, governing bodies must adopt a budget for the ensuing fiscal period by June 30, or, in the case of a property tax rate increase, before Sept. 1 of the year for which the increase is proposed.
Under these statutes, once a budget is adopted, the budget officer must certify a copy and file it with the state auditor within 30 days. The Heber City Council has been working through these requirements since early summer, holding a City Council meeting on June 2, 2026, to discuss various items including Justice Court consolidation and the Wasatch Trails Foundation presentation.
Fiscal Planning History
The city's financial planning involved several preliminary steps. On June 2, 2026, the council held a work meeting to discuss unbilled services for various funds, including culinary water, sewer water, stormwater, and pressurized irrigation. They also held hearings regarding municipal salaries and amendments to the consolidated fee schedule.
