MURRAY CITY MUNICIPAL COUNCIL
TRUTH IN TAXATION MEETING
Minutes of Tuesday, August 11, 2026
Murray City Hall, 10 East 4800 South, Council Chambers, Murray, Utah 84107
Attendance:
Council Members:
Paul Pickett District #1
Pam Cotter District #2
Clark Bullen District #3
Diane Turner District #4 – Vice Chair
Adam Hock District #5 – Council Chair
Others:
Brett Hales Mayor Jennifer Kennedy City Council Executive Director
Kim Sorensen Chief Administrative Officer Crystal Brown Council Administration
G.L. Critchfield City Attorney Brooke Smith City Recorder
Brenda Moore Finance Director Emily Barton Finance
Josh Hill Storm Water Supervisor Aron Frisk Water Superintendent
Greg Bellon Power Director Ben Gray IT Supervisor
Ryan Madsen IT Director Citizens and Guests
Call to Order: 6:30 p.m. – Council Member Hock
Public Hearings:
1. Murray City intends to make the following statement containing each of the following elements (a)
through (d), as required by state law:
a. that Murray City is considering levying a tax rate that exceeds Murray City’s certified tax rate (“tax
rate increase”);
b. the approximate dollar amount of and purpose for additional ad valorem tax revenue that would be
generated by the proposed tax rate increase;
c. the approximate percentage increase in ad valorem tax revenue for Murray City based on the
proposed tax rate increase; and
d. that if Murray City proceeds with the proposed tax rate increase, Murray City will provide notice of
and conduct a public hearing, as required by state law (Utah Code 59-2-919(4)(c)), at which
members of the public will have an opportunity to provide comments on the proposed tax rate
increase. Brenda Moore presenting.
2. Presentation of the property tax impact schedule. Finance Director Brenda Moore said the Property
Tax Increase Impact Statement was a new requirement under Utah State Code 59-2-919 as amended in
the 2026 legislative session; it was designed to make the public aware that the City is proposing a Tax
Levy increase, and it required the City to review details about the increase, and what the effect would
be if the increase was not passed.
If the City did not implement a property tax increase, the City’s current property tax rate of .001370
would provide approximately $12 million in City revenue. However, the City was requesting $714,297 in
new revenue, which would increase the tax rate to .001488. This request would increase Murray’s
property tax by 5.66%. Ms. Moore provided combined rate estimates for those living in the Murray
School District and the Granite School District and confirmed that the average estimated increase for a
primary residence valued at $614,000 would be approximately $26.46 per year, or $2.21 per month. For
a business valued at $614,000, the increase would be approximately $48.12 per year, or $4.01 per
month.
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Truth In Taxation Council Meeting
Minutes of August 11, 2026 Page 2
Ms. Moore explained how new revenue totaling $714,297 would be used to hire a new police officer to fill
the vacancy created by an officer mandated by the State to be assigned to the Regional Computer
Forensics Lab, fund market rate adjustments to police officers’ salaries to ensure retention, and pay for
overtime, allowing more hours for major investigations and incidents. In the Fire Department, market rate
adjustments would be made to firefighter salaries to ensure retention and allow for more overtime to
lessen the number of times fire shifts operate at minimum staffing.
She explained Truth in Taxation, stating that the commonly used term referred to a statute passed in 1985
designed so that, just because property values increased, property taxes would not increase. The City was
guaranteed the same property tax revenue, plus new growth each year, while the mill levy would go
down. She clarified that in 2024, the City’s rate was .001483. In 2025, a property tax increase was not
implemented, and the rate dropped to .001403. Because the City was requesting $714,297 in new revenue
this time, the rate increased to .001448.
Ms. Moore provided a list of every city in Salt Lake County that would increase property taxes this year
and explained that, without a property tax increase this year, the rate would have dropped again to
.001370. Comparably, with the proposed increase, Murray would sit just below the mid-range among
other cities that were also increasing property taxes. She clarified that the 5.66% increase would not be
applied to an entire property tax bill, but only to Murray City’s portion, which was on .17¢ of a dollar for
Murray School District residents and on .14¢ of a dollar for Murray residents in the Granite School District.
3. Consider an ordinance adopting the rate of tax levies for the Fiscal Year commencing July 1, 2026, and
ending June 30, 2027.
The public hearing was open for public comments.
Krystal Walker – Murray Resident
Ms. Walker said that, as the wife of a Murray firefighter who had served with the Murray Fire
Department for 25 years, she believed the increase would support all public servants in continuing to
build teamwork and develop important skills essential to their safety and the safety of Murray citizens.
She expressed appreciation to the Council for its great efforts in reducing the proposed increase from its
original amount. She felt the Council had given considerable thought to adjusting the increase and
emphasized the value of living in Murray, where public services were prioritized to improve the quality
of life for all residents.
Scott Goodman – Murray Resident – Email.
Mr. Goodman asked City officials to consider alternatives to raising property taxes, including the State-
authorized 1% arts and cultural sales tax, which could generate approximately $2 million to $2.4 million
annually without increasing the property tax burden on homeowners. He also urged the City to ensure
impact fees were used for legally appropriate, growth-related system improvements rather than
discretionary amenities such as the proposed ninja course. He felt the City should use every available
tool responsible and direct impact fees toward projects that met legal requirements and supported
long-term community needs.
The public hearing was closed.
Ms. Moore confirmed that the 1% arts and cultural sales tax, also known as the ZAP (Zoo, Arts and Parks)
tax, was already implemented throughout the County by Salt Lake County. Murray could not implement
the ZAP tax on its own, because Murray was part of Salt Lake County. Murray received approximately
$100,000 per year from the County in ZAP funding for cultural arts, and new park projects or park
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Truth In Taxation Council Meeting
Minutes of August 11, 2026 Page 3
amenities.
MOTION: Mr. Picket moved to adopt the ordinance. Ms. Cotter SECONDED the motion.
Council Roll Call Vote
Mr. Pickett Aye
Ms. Cotter Aye
Mr. Bullen Aye
Ms. Turner Aye
Mr. Hock Aye
Motion passed: 5-0
4. Consider an ordinance adopting the final 2026-2027 Fiscal Year Budgets for Murray City including the
Library Fund Budget.
The public hearing was open for public comments. No comments were given, and the public hearing was
closed.
MOTION: Ms. Turner moved to adopt the ordinance. Mr. Pickett SECONDED the motion.
Council Roll Call Vote
Mr. Pickett Aye
Ms. Cotter Aye – Ms. Cotter stated for the record that, although she did not approve of the
proposed funding for the Downtown Main Street USA position or the new social
media position, she would vote to approve the final 2026-2027 Fiscal Year Budget.
Mr. Bullen Aye
Ms. Turner Aye
Mr. Hock Aye
Motion passed: 5-0
Adjournment: 6:54 p.m. Pattie Johnson
Council Office Administrator III
