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Eventual property tax increase to fund roads likely in Highland May 16, 2017, 4:08 pmCity staff members are currently working on a five-year road plan. Current estimates indicate that an additional $1 million will be needed annually for road maintenance and construction. Some council members favor using excess funds in the city's budget toward road repair and reconstruction but said the city will still have to ask residents for more money to fund road reconstruction eventually. In February, the council approved a plan for city staff to involve and educate the public about the plan and the need for funding. Options being considered included a resident survey, which would include questions asking if residents would support a property tax increase. The mayor and city council also heard the results of an employee pay rate and benefits study that compared Highland's rates with 76 other cities and municipalities. The study found that a substantial number of city jobs are below the market average. It recommended that the city implement a long-range plan to bring employee rates up to a competitive level, basing those increases on merit/performance and longevity through an ongoing performance management and evaluation process. The first step would be to identify those positions that are significantly below market level and to increase pay rates and benefits for those positions. City Administrator Nathan Crane told the council that it would cost approximately $51,000 per year to raise all of the positions to meet the minimum. For the few positions that are above market averages value, the study recommended that the city put a cap at the market average maximum and implement a freeze on pay increases for those above that maximum. The council also considered possible changes to the election process but rejected expanding early voting to include the Saturday before the election because of the cost involved. It also gave direction to City Recorder Jody Bates to pursue having one voting location at City Hall and providing a ballot box for each precinct. The community news source for Eagle Mountain Utah, Saratoga Springs Utah, Lehi Utah, American Fork Utah, Highland Utah, Alpine Utah, and The Cedar Valley, including Cedar Fort Utah and Fairfield Utah. Copyright 2024 The Crossroads Journal LLC. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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