The Holladay City Council unanimously approved Resolution 2026-12 during its May 7, 2026, meeting, officially acknowledging the receipt of the tentative 2026-2027 fiscal year budgets. The adoption also set a public hearing for June 4, 2026.
City Manager Gina Chamness presented details regarding the tentative budget, noting that it was developed to prioritize city employees through a 2.7% cost of living adjustment and targeted market increases for staff retention. While the budget does not anticipate a property tax increase for the 2026-2027 fiscal year, officials noted that historic levels of sales tax growth may not be sufficient to cover future increases in public works and public safety services, potentially leading to a property tax increase in the following fiscal year.
The budget includes provisions for converting two part-time positions into full-time roles: a Judicial Assistant for the Justice Court, due to an 18% increase in caseload, and an Inspector position intended to reduce reliance on expensive contract services. Additionally, the budget reflects inflationary increases and rising contract costs for police and public works services, each increasing by approximately $300,000.
Key projects highlighted in the budget include the seismic retrofit of the nearly 100-year-old City Hall Building and the conversion of the Spring Lane Elementary site into a park.
During the meeting, the Council held public hearings regarding street vacations at 2755 East Hillsden Drive and 1720 East Bunkerhill Road. For the Hillsden Drive proposal, City Planner Justice Tuffour explained a plan to reduce the right-of-way width from 65 feet to 50 feet. At the Bunkerhill Road hearing, residents expressed support for a request to incorporate unused right-of-way into their property to improve neighborhood aesthetics.
A public hearing was also held regarding the Utah Community Clean Energy Program. City Manager Chamness noted that Council Member Drew Quinn reported five communities have already adopted the ordinance, and resident Doug Stark encouraged council support for the renewable energy program.
In other city business, Ms. Chamness provided an update on federal funding via a Department of Homeland Security earmark for the City Hall seismic retrofit, noting that officials are working with the Federal Delegation to seek a special exemption since work has already begun. The Council also confirmed that future agendas will include language allowing the City Recorder to make non-substantive corrections to ordinances or resolutions.
