Homeowners and businesses across Bountiful, North Salt Lake, Woods Cross, Centerville, and West Bountiful will pay more in property taxes if South Davis Metro Fire's proposed 16.31% revenue increase is approved at a public hearing Monday, August 3.

The district's Truth in Taxation notice shows the owner of a $651,000 home would see their annual fire district tax rise from $182.61 to $212.32, an increase of $29.71 per year. A commercial property of the same value would jump from $332.01 to $386.04, a $54.03 annual increase.

The increase would generate $1,315,412 in new property tax revenue for fiscal year 2027.

It is the largest proposed tax increase by dollar amount among nine Davis County taxing entities seeking hikes this year, and the second-largest by percentage behind only Woods Cross City's 46.86% proposal, which we reported July 21.

Where the money goes

The district projects a $1.9 million budget shortfall for FY2027. That gap drove the proposal. To close it, officials plan to draw roughly $676,118 from the general fund balance and raise the remaining $1.3 million through the tax increase.

Three line items account for the new revenue:

• Salary and benefit increases to stay competitive with neighboring departments: $807,140
• A new Deputy Fire Chief position: $238,853
• Higher operating costs, including vehicle maintenance, fuel, dispatch services, and utilities: $255,977

Bountiful City Manager Gary Hill told the city's Public Safety Committee on May 5 that the increase would also fund converting two part-time fire inspector positions into one full-time role with benefits.

New chief, first budget cycle

Fire Chief Jeff Larsen, a Bountiful High School graduate who joined the department part-time in 1997, was appointed to lead South Davis Metro Fire on May 18 after the unexpected death of Chief Greg Stewart in February. The FY2027 budget is the first prepared under Larsen's leadership.

"I'm excited for the opportunity to lead this organization," Larsen told the Davis Journal in May, shortly after his appointment. "I'm excited to serve the communities where my roots are, where I grew up, where I was born and raised."

The Board of Trustees voted 5-0 on June 15 to adopt the proposed tax levy rate of 0.000593 and set the August 3 hearing date. Board members Kate Bradshaw (Bountiful mayor), Clark Wilkinson, Brian Horrocks, Ken Romney, and Bob Stevenson voted in favor. Ryan Westergard abstained.

How to weigh in

The hearing begins at 6 p.m. Monday, August 3, in the training rooms at Station #81, 255 South 100 West, Bountiful. Residents can also attend virtually via Microsoft Teams; connection details will be posted at www.sdmetrofire.gov at least 24 hours before the meeting.

Each speaker gets three minutes and must state their name and city of residence. Written comments submitted by email will be read aloud, and comments can also be posted in the virtual meeting chat.

Following public comment, the Board of Trustees will consider adopting Resolution 2026-10, which would set the final 2026 tax year property tax rate and approve the FY2027 budget. The board has until Tuesday, September 1, to adopt a final rate.