Santaquin adopted the certified tax rate after giving notice of a possible increase
A May 22 notice set a June 2 hearing on Santaquin's tentative budget and a proposed property tax increase. On June 16 the council instead unanimously adopted the certified rate of 0.001399, and the final budget's lines for a fire-department tax increase are zero.
Continuing story: Auditing Santaquin
A city notice, with a May 22, 2026 certificate of posting by the city recorder, announced a June 2 public hearing on the fiscal 2026-27 tentative budget and a proposed property tax increase. The notice reviewed does not give a rate or amount. [1]
On June 16 the council adopted Resolution 06-05-2026, accepting the certified tax rate issued by the Utah State Tax Commission. [2][3]
The rate
The resolution sets 0.001284 for general operations and 0.000115 for the library, for a total municipal certified rate of 0.001399. It says the city is required to accept the rate within both Utah County and Juab County. [2]
City Manager Norm Beagley said the combined rate was 0.00001 lower than the prior year's, which he said represents about 16 cents a month on the average home. He said adopting the certified rate would eliminate the need for further Truth in Taxation proceedings, including newspaper ads and public hearings. [3]
Councilor Art Adcock noted that the resolution referenced both counties, but the accompanying state form referenced only Utah County. Beagley said an identical Juab County form existed with the same rate and showed it in the room. [3]
The vote
Councilor Brian Del Rosario said he personally preferred holding the tax rate steady rather than adopting the decrease, arguing that would capture inflation as the city grows. Mayor Daniel Olson said he viewed the certified rate as the appropriate choice. [3]
Del Rosario moved to approve the resolution, Councilor Jeff Siddoway seconded, and all five council members voted yes. [3]
In the budget
The final budget posted for the meeting projects $2,083,154 in current-year property taxes for the General Fund in fiscal 2027, up from $1,982,262 in the revised fiscal 2026 budget. [4]
Its General Fund and fire fund lines labeled for a proposed property tax increase for the fire department are $0. [4]
The council then approved the final budget 5-0, with three technical corrections to the water, sewer and library funds. [5]
A certified tax rate is a rate, not a bill. What an individual property owner pays also depends on valuation, exemptions and other taxing entities. The Ledger has not reviewed the June 2 meeting record.
Sources
- Santaquin City · Notice of public hearing, tentative budget and proposed property tax increase (posted May 22, 2026)
- Santaquin City · Resolution 06-05-2026, FY2026-2027 certified tax rate (agenda attachment)
- Santaquin City Council · June 16, 2026 minutes, certified tax rate
- Santaquin City · FY2026-27 final budget, General Fund
- Santaquin City Council · June 16, 2026 minutes, final budget adoption
Reporting by The Utah Ledger from the public records above. AI-assisted, checked against those records.