Bluffdale eyes budget minus property-tax hike

BLUFFDALE — The Bluffdale City Council has whittled down its shopping list and has settled on a proposed budget that doesn't require property tax or fee increases.

The City Council reviewed about $2.5 million in additions to the city's proposed 2007-08 fiscal year budget requested by city department heads — including Mayor Claudia Anderson — during a work session Tuesday but limited its spending to the nearly $400,000 available in the general fund without raising taxes.

All three members of the City Council who attended the budget work session voiced their opposition to raising taxes, opting instead to be fiscally conservative and deny about $2 million worth of funding requests.

"I don't feel comfortable with a property tax increase this year," Councilwoman Nancy Lord said, adding that the city's needs were greater a year ago when the City Council approved a 36 percent property tax increase.

The City Council is scheduled vote on the proposed budget following a public hearing Tuesday at 7 p.m.

Most of the additions supported Tuesday came from Anderson's $580,000 wish list — including $200,000 for a yearly payment to purchase property for a new city cemetery. Anderson proposed purchasing the three-acre lot at 2829 W. 13800 South, where owner H.R. Brown had been planning to open a drug- and alcohol-treatment center.

At a special meeting Wednesday night, the City Council voted 3-2 not to buy the land after hearing comments from residents, most of whom live near the land.

Residents strongly opposed the treatment center opening at the location, leading Anderson to deny Brown's application for a business license last month. Brown then offered to sell the property to the city for $1.5 million.

City Attorney Todd Weiler said Brown might sue the city over its denial of his business permit if the city doesn't purchase the land from him, and that could lead to mounting legal fees.

Council member Martha Speed said fear of a lawsuit was not a good reason to buy the property.

"Ever since I've been on this council it seems every time we make a decision based on the threat of a lawsuit, we tend to make the wrong decision," Speed said.

Also Tuesday, the City Council supported the mayor's request to increase money for legal fees, agreeing to boost that budget item from $127,000 to $202,000. Bluffdale is awaiting a Utah Supreme Court ruling on the disconnection of about 4,000 acres from the city.

"Whether we win or lose, we'll probably have to pay somebody something," Anderson said.

The City Council also has spent upwards of $150,000 to defend itself against lawsuits filed by the mayor. Legal bills from the most recent legal battle, involving Anderson's hiring of an administrative services director without the council's consent, totaled nearly $94,000.

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