South Davis Metro Fire's Administrative Committee convenes Thursday, Sept. 3, for the first time since June. A separate Board of Trustees subcommittee is weighing whether the panel should continue in its current form.

The meeting begins at 3 p.m. at Station 81, 255 S. 100 W. in Bountiful. Residents can also join via Microsoft Teams.

The posted agenda lists four items: approval of June minutes, a discussion with Chief Larsen and Budget Officer Bryce Haderlie, a fire chief report and a chair report. The committee may also enter a closed session to discuss real property, pending litigation or personnel matters under Utah Code §52-4-205.

No meetings were held in July or August. The agenda's call to approve June minutes confirms the gap.

Governance review underway

The meeting comes as the Board of Trustees reviews the Administrative Committee's future. The board recently created a subcommittee to examine the committee's role and recommend possible changes, according to a Bountiful City staff report presented to the Bountiful City Council on Aug. 11.

The Administrative Committee was established in 2015 when the fire district was created. Member cities, particularly Bountiful, insisted on the panel to preserve municipal influence over district finances. The committee is composed of city managers from each participating city, and its chair doubles as the district's budget officer.

Bountiful City Manager Gary Hill, who represents Bountiful on the committee, wrote in the Aug. 11 staff report that the district "has changed and matured in the last 10 years" and that reviewing the governance model is appropriate. Hill identified several challenges: the fire chief must answer to two oversight bodies, the annual rotation of the committee chair creates inconsistency, and yearly member-assessment discussions can create tension among cities.

Hill framed the central question as whether continued municipal involvement outweighs the costs of a more collaborative structure. He also asked whether city managers should still help develop the budget or leave that work entirely to district staff.

Tax increase context

The governance discussion unfolds alongside a 16% property tax increase proposed earlier this year for fiscal year 2026-27. The district's budget impact statement, dated May 7, projected the increase would generate roughly $1.3 million in new revenue. For the average homeowner with a $623,000 assessed value, the hike would add about $29 per year.

The Board of Trustees faced a Sept. 1 deadline to adopt the final tax rate and budget. The outcome of that vote has not been confirmed.

The new revenue would fund salary and benefit increases of about $807,000, a new deputy fire chief position at roughly $239,000 and $256,000 in higher operating costs.

The Board of Trustees' next regular meeting is scheduled for Sept. 21. Residents can contact South Davis Metro Fire at 801-677-2400.