City Council Meeting - May 12, 2026

Meeting Summary

The May 12 City Council meeting centered on a public hearing for Mayor Paul Binns' proposed fiscal year 2027 budget, which seeks to raise an additional $1,729,474 in revenue through a property tax increase. Under the proposal, the average Lehi homeowner with a residence valued at $600,000 would pay roughly $35.52 more per year, while a similarly valued commercial property would see an increase of approximately $64.58 per year. The hearing offered residents their formal opportunity to weigh in before the Council finalizes the budget ahead of the state-mandated June 30 deadline. The new revenue is targeted at four departments: police, fire, parks, and the justice courts. The largest share is directed to the police department, which has reported a 46% increase in caseload since 2021 and would gain three new patrol officers, an additional school resource officer, and a records clerk, along with a new shift differential pay program. The fire department is slated to receive roughly $621,428 in additional funding. City staff have framed the increases as necessary to keep public safety staffing in line with Lehi's rapid population growth. The Council took no final action on the budget at this meeting. Adoption of the FY 2027 budget and accompanying fee schedule is expected at a subsequent regular meeting later in May, when residents will see the final tax rate and department allocations confirmed. For complete details, residents can review the official agenda and the video recording linked above.