May 5, 2026
Dear Salt Lakers,
Last night, I presented my recommended budget for the upcoming fiscal year to the Salt Lake City Council. It was a difficult budget to build. We know costs are rising for households, because they are rising for the City, too. But at the same time, demand for City services continues to grow.
This FY2027 Budget focuses on the basics residents depend on: safe neighborhoods, reliable infrastructure, clean water, maintained parks, youth programs, fire response, and street repairs.
Cuts and Efficiencies
Before considering any increases, we cut $13.2 million through department-wide cooperation and efficiencies. That included holding vacancies open longer, reducing contracts, lowering overtime, and finding savings across City operations. But even after those cuts, the cost of maintaining core services coupled with inflation has outpaced available revenue.
Property Tax Increase
We’re proposing a property tax increase to generate $13.5 million. (This applies only to the City’s portion of your full property tax bill.) For a typical household in a home valued at $624,000, that amounts to about $9.87 per month.
What It Will Pay For
If approved by the City Council, the $13.5 million generated from the property tax increase would fund these essential services:
- Capital improvements to infrastructure
- Fire response and wildfire prevention
- Criminal Justice: staffing for legal defenders, prosecutors, and Justice Court teams
- Public Lands maintenance
- Fleet maintenance
- Youth & Family YouthCity programming
- Environment & Energy Division in the Sustainability Department
- Lighting maintenance in public space
Utility and Waste Rates
Changes to Public Utility and Waste & Recycling rates are also proposed. These rates support the systems that keep water running, toilets flushing, fire hydrants ready, stormwater managed, and trash collected. Proposed Public Utility rate increases will vary, based on how you use the system. Waste & Recycling will be about a $3/month increase for most residential garbage carts.
Estimate Your Public Utility Rates Waste Rate Details
Share Your Feedback
The City Council is now reviewing the proposed budget and will make final decisions before the end of June. I hope you’ll stay involved and share your thoughts. Public comment opportunities are scheduled for May 19 and June 2, with a Truth in Taxation public hearing on August 11.
You can also share comments with the Salt Lake City Council by emailing [email protected], calling 801-535-7654, or visiting tinyurl.com/CommentSLC.
Learn more about this budget and find answers to your questions at link.slc.gov/budgetbasics.
As always, feel free to reach out to me at [email protected].
Your friend,
