South Davis Metro Fire's adopted interim budget for fiscal year 2026-27 details where the district's proposed 16% property tax increase would go: a $22 million spending plan that includes a new ambulance, a new brush truck, replacement breathing equipment and security upgrades at every station.

The budget document, posted to the district's website, shows total revenues and expenditures of $22,073,468, a 5.9% increase over the prior year's adopted budget of $20,841,498. The district serves Bountiful, North Salt Lake, Woods Cross, West Bountiful, Centerville and unincorporated Davis County.

What the capital money buys

The Capital Equipment Fund budgets $1,012,500 in spending for the year, broken into four categories:

  • Vehicles ($410,000): A new ambulance and brush truck, plus staff vehicle replacements.
  • Building improvements ($377,500): Key-access door controls at all stations ($35,000) and other facility upgrades at multiple locations.
  • Equipment ($125,000): Includes replacement of the district's SCBA (self-contained breathing apparatus) fill station, used to refill firefighters' air tanks.
  • Buildings ($100,000): Additional facility work.

That's a steep drop from the prior year, when the district spent an estimated $1,465,780 on major apparatus purchases in the capital fund.

Where the tax increase goes

As we reported July 30, the district proposed a 16.1% property tax increase generating roughly $1.3 million in new revenue. That money is earmarked for three purposes: $807,140 for salary and benefit increases to stay competitive with neighboring departments; $238,853 for a new Deputy Fire Chief position; and $255,977 for increased operating costs.

For a home valued at $623,000 (the 2025 average), the increase amounts to about $28.81 more per year on the South Davis Metro Fire portion of the tax bill, raising it from roughly $178 to $207.

Operations and staffing

The district's largest spending category remains operations at $15,099,234, up 4.8%, covering firefighter salaries, benefits and shift coverage. Administration spending jumps 24.3% to $1,396,083, driven largely by the new Deputy Fire Chief role. The Fire Prevention division rises 18.8% to $563,674 after converting two part-time inspector positions into one full-time inspector with benefits.

The EMS division budget grows 6.2% to $925,095, including $147,000 for medical supplies and a new $3,100 Bike Medics program line.

Adoption timeline

The Board of Trustees adopted the interim budget on Monday, June 15, by a 5-0 vote, with trustee Ryan Westergard absent. Board members Kate Bradshaw, Clark Wilkinson, Brian Horrocks, Ken Romney and Bob Stevenson voted yes. Interim Fire Chief Jeff Larsen leads the department.

Under Resolution 2026-09, the board held a Truth-in-Taxation public hearing at Station 81, 255 South 100 West in Bountiful, on Monday, Aug. 3. The board may adopt the final budget and tax rate on or before Sept. 1. The district has not yet posted results of the Aug. 3 hearing.