Tooele adopts a 2026 property tax increase: $238,092 for a bond payment and fire costs

Tooele City Council scheduled a truth-in-taxation hearing on Aug. 19, 2026 on a proposed property tax increase, followed by hearings on Resolution 2026-61, setting the final tax rate, and Resolution 2026-62, adopting the final fiscal 2027 budget. ^[1]

The city's notice says the increase would generate about $238,092 a year: $138,092 for the Judgement Levy Bond payment increase and $100,000 for fire department volunteer stipends and an administrative assistant. ^[1]

The impact schedule

The property tax impact schedule in the meeting packet lists a certified rate of 0.002527 and a proposed rate of 0.002590, a 2.49% increase. It estimates revenue of $9,550,107 at the certified rate and $9,788,199 at the proposed rate, excluding new growth. ^[2]

The schedule says the judgment levy bond payment rose from $535,632 in fiscal 2025 to $1,075,537 in fiscal 2027, and that this levy ends when the bond is paid off. ^[2]

The schedule's long-term debt line shows $1,075,537 at the proposed rate and $939,362 without a tax change, and lists the change as $138,092. Its fire line shows $1,583,798 at the proposed rate and $1,483,798 without a change, a $100,000 difference. ^[2]

For a residence at the median value of $382,162, the schedule estimates the city's portion of the tax rising from $531.15 to $544.39 a year, a $13.24 increase. For a commercial property at the median value of $513,900, it estimates a rise from $1,298.63 to $1,331.00, a $32.38 increase. ^[2]

These figures cover only the city's rate, not the full property tax bill, which includes other taxing entities. ^[2]

The resolutions

The draft Resolution 2026-61 in the packet would set the fiscal 2027 rate at 0.002590. Its date and vote lines are blank. The draft Resolution 2026-62 would adopt the final budget and direct the budget officer to file it with the state auditor within 30 days. ^[2]

The city's minutes of the Aug. 19 meeting, signed and approved Sept. 2, are a scanned image. They record Finance Director Shannon Wimmer explaining that Resolution 2026-61 adopts a rate of 0.002590, a 2.49% increase over the certified rate. Councilman Hansen moved, Councilman McCall seconded, and McCall, Hansen, Councilwoman Gochis, Councilman Gossett and Chairman Brady each voted aye, 5-0. Resolution 2026-62, adopting the final fiscal 2027 budget, also passed 5-0 on a motion by Gochis seconded by Gossett. ^[5] The city's finance page posts the fiscal 2027 budget as its adopted budget. ^[4]

The fire department money

On Sept. 16, the council voted 4-0 to approve Resolution 2026-73, which consents to a firefighter incentive program called F.I.R.E. and adopts its plan document. Councilman Dave McCall was excused. ^[3]

According to the minutes, $100,000 is budgeted for the program in the current fiscal year, with a maximum annual incentive of $9,000 per firefighter. The program is point-based, and only points earned from October count for its first plan year. ^[3]

The Sept. 16 minutes do not tie the program's funding to the tax increase. ^[3]