Hideout residents will have the opportunity to voice their opinions on a proposed property tax increase at a public hearing on Thursday evening, August 8.
If the city council approves the budget proposal, Hideout will see a 30% increase in its property tax revenue. For a home valued at $873,000, that would be an increase of about $68 per year. For a business of the same value, taxes would increase by $124 annually.
The city expects the increase to generate a total of $388,000 in property tax revenue.
City Administrator Jan McCosh says the additional tax revenue will be used for a variety of purposes, including improving trails and increasing “public engagement.”
$50,000 in tax revenue will also be used to fund the grants. Hideout is working with the Mountainland Association of Governments on grants to provide trail connectivity to Jordanelle State Park and to improve the town’s sewers.
A budget proposal for fiscal year 2025 shows the city also plans to spend more than $200,000 on a consultant – a new expense. Legal fees will also nearly double from last year: $290,000 in fiscal year 2024, compared to just over $150,000.
The city council is expected to adopt its 2025 budget at its meeting on Thursday.
Residents can attend the hearing in person or online. The meeting begins at 7 p.m. Meeting details are available on the city’s website.
