Heber City's proposed senior property-tax relief pilot failed and was continued

A proposed Heber City property-tax abatement for seniors failed to pass on Aug. 18, 2026, and the council voted to continue the item. ^[1]

The proposal

Mayor Heidi Franco presented Resolution 2026-19, a property tax abatement, at the council's July 21 work meeting. The minutes say it was meant to help senior citizens struggling with rising property taxes and inflation, and cite a 53% rise in property values from 2021 to 2022. ^[2]

Franco outlined qualifications in a presentation that is not included in the minutes. Council Member Yvonne Barney proposed a sunset clause, and Council Member Mike Johnston said help should extend beyond seniors. No vote was taken. ^[2]

The Aug. 18 votes

On Aug. 18, Barney moved to approve Resolution 2026-19 with an $80,000 cap for a one-year pilot program. Cheatwood seconded. Barney and Cheatwood voted yes; Johnston, Ostergaard and Murdock voted no, and the motion failed. ^[1]

The council also voted 5-0 on Cheatwood's motion, seconded by Ostergaard, to continue the item to the next council meeting. ^[1]

Since then

The agendas for the council's Sept. 1 and Sept. 15 meetings do not list Resolution 2026-19. ^[3][4]

At the Sept. 1 work meeting, during a discussion of legislative priorities, Franco reminded the council of her proposed property tax abatement for seniors. Johnston said he would rather see property taxes reduced or frozen for fixed-income older homeowners, as he had seen in other states, the minutes say. ^[5]