the annual budget to review and approve. Very quickly two significant changes became clear. First, due to restructuring mandated by the State Legislature, the costs to pay our police officers at the Unified Police Department is going to increase significantly. Unfortunately, without the partnership of the county these costs are shared amongst fewer municipalities. The Unified Police Department allows us to share the costs of police services with other cities while giving us access to their exceptional resources provided by a valley-wide network.
Firework Safety
With July here, let’s talk about fireworks safety. This year fireworks are permitted in some parts of the City and you can see that map on the city website. A $1,000 fine will be issued to anyone who discharges a firework outside of the legally determined dates and times or in a restricted area.
Please use extreme caution when using fireworks during the season and follow these safety considerations:
Secondly, the inflation we have all felt these last few years has hit the city. At Holladay City we operate on a lean budget and seek to be prudent in our expenditures. Yet as every household can attest, even with good financial management, prices are increasing. The last few years Holladay has experienced double-digit sales tax growth fueled by the collection of online sales tax. This revenue has provided a cushion the last few years against this inflationary pressure. Unfortunately, and despite my personal increased spending on Amazon, that growth has stalled, and we cannot rely on this source of revenue to fund the City’s expense changes. The budget the City Council approved this year includes a 15 percent increase in the City’s portion of the property tax rate. For a Holladay home valued at $944,000 this increase would be approximately $97.09 a year or about $8.09 a month. Before this tax rate is adopted, we will go through a Truth in Taxation process to ensure our residents fully understand why the increase is necessary and how it will affect them.
Truth in Taxation is a process created in Utah and modeled throughout the country to protect citizens. It allows residents to learn about and comment when cities propose a property tax increase. It requires that cities provide residents with the amount and percentage of the increase along with the budget increases that necessitate the request. Here in Holladay, we seek to be as transparent as possible throughout this process. We will be providing information through the mail, the City Journal, our website and social media channels. In addition, the county will send out a valuation and tax changes notice providing details of the hearing. We will also provide a formal period in our August city council meeting for citizens to comment and as always, we welcome your comments via email. As a City Council we value your input through this process.
We recognize that even a minor tax increase is never welcome news. However, in order to keep our citizens safe, we need to continue to pay for our police services. We want our police officers to have the resources they need to be well-trained and well-equipped. Citizens of Holladay know it is a special place to live. Our recommendations have been made thoughtfully with the sole intent to preserve and protect our unique community for future generations.
• If high winds, precipitation, or other adverse weather conditions prevail, fireworks discharge should be postponed or discontinued until weather conditions improve.
• Secure all fireworks in place using bricks or cinder blocks
• Aerial fi reworks should be placed outdoors on a hard-level surface, in a clear and open area before ignition and be a minimum of 30 feet from any structure or vertical obstruction.
• Always supervise children around ALL fireworks and similar products.
• Sparklers burn at 2,000 degrees and account for more than 25% of ER visits associated with fireworks. For children under 5 years of age that jumps to nearly half of all firework-related injuries.
• Keep a bucket of water or a garden hose handy
Firework Disposal: Put used fireworks in a bucket of water overnight as they can still be burning on the inside long after the sparks have stopped. Remove them from the water the next day and put them into a bag inside your garbage can.
Emily Gray, Council
LIBRARY HAPPENINGS — JULY
Sun Lit Solar Party with Clark Planetarium
Thursday, July 25th 1:30 to 3:30
All ages. We’ll learn about eclipses and discover the amazing features of the sun as you look (safely) through solar telescopes!
Magic & Mayhem
July 2nd Reptiles at the Library 3pm
July 11th Stained Glass Craft 3pm
July 19th Dragon Craft Take and Make while supplies last
Protect Your Pet from Summer Fun
Salt Lake County Animal Services
More pets go missing in the summer months than any other time of year. Make sure they always have on a collar with an ID tag, with up-to-date info. Microchipping your pet is also important, in the event your pet goes missing. Watch out for these sounds of summer:
Barbecues: If guests are going to be coming in and out of the front door or back gate, keep your pets in a secure area, or put them in their crate. An unsecured gate, or door left open, is the perfect opportunity for your pet to take themselves on an adventure without you.
Thunderstorms: According to the ASPCA, 1 in 5 pets goes missing after being scared by loud noises. Be sure to bring your pet indoors and keep them away from open windows when summer storms roll into your area.
Fireworks: The loud noise of firework displays, big or small, are scary and disorienting to pets. Leave them at home, inside with a loud fan, or calming music. If the fireworks display is in your driveway, be sure to clean up the leftover firework debris, never underestimate what your dog may stick in its mouth. Fireworks are poisonous to pets.
All pets in Salt Lake County can receive a free microchip at Salt Lake County Animal Services. We welcome you to bring in your pet to Animal Services at 511 W 3900 S, Tue – Sat, 10 AM -6 PM to get your pet microchipped. Find a lost pet? Contact your local animal control! The first-place pet owners look for a lost pet is the local shelter. How you can help: post a photo of them, where you found them and what shelter they went to on the NextDoor App or Utah Lost & Found Pets Facebook Group. All pets at Salt Lake County Animal Services can be seen online at AdoptUtahPets.org
CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS:
Rob Dahle, Mayor rdahle@holladayut.gov 801-580-3056
Ty Brewer, District 1 tbrewer@holladayut.gov 801-550-8747
Matt Durham, District 2 mdurham@holladayut.gov 801-999-0781
Paul Fotheringham, District 3 pfotheringham@holladayut.gov 801-424-3058
Drew Quinn, District 4 dquinn@holladayut.gov 801-272-6526
Emily Gray, District 5 egray@holladayut.gov 801-755-3477
Gina Chamness, City Manager gchamness@holladayut.gov
PUBLIC MEETINGS: City Council – rst and third Thursday of the month at 6 p.m. Planning Commission – rst and third Tuesday of the month at 6 p.m.
New “Business Spotlight” Be Summer Ready
The Holladay Business Advisory Board (HBAB) invites Holladay-based businesses to share their story. A short application is available on the website to allow businesses to describe their unique story. With that in mind, the Holladay Business Advisory Board is seeking applications to spotlight local enterprises. We have an opportunity to build a more resilient local economy through promoting the importance of locally-owned and independent businesses. The Board will review applications at its monthly meeting and will select one business to spotlight each month. Please check the Holladay Business Advisory Board webpage tinyurl.com/ HolladayBAB for the application or use the QR code above. For more information, contact annfgarcia@holladayUT.gov or 385-425-0853.
Keep it Local – Shop Holladay!
By Ann Frances Garcia Economic Development & Housing Manager and Holladay Business Advisory Board Member – Jill Fonte
“Shopping local” means different things to different people. In the next couple of months, the Holladay Business Advisory Board will be surveying the community to find out what shopping local means to you. Think about why you shop local or why you don’t shop local. Think about the purchases you make each day. There are many benefits to shopping local. Your dollars are what keeps our businesses in business. Supporting local businesses will recirculate more money in the local economy and preserve local culture. Holladay is home to just under 1,000 businesses and approximately 5,000 employees. There are many studies that show that local businesses recirculate approximately three times as much money within their communities than non-local businesses. Our ongoing awareness campaign that creates a culture of “shop local” is our goal and will align with our new business highlight efforts to support local businesses. Please feel free to share your thoughts on “shop local” with us at annfgarcia@holladayut.gov.
By Allison Jester, Emergency Mgmt Coordinator
With summer festivities and adventures in full swing and temperatures soaring, it’s important to remember that heat can be deadly. This year we have already seen higher than usual temperatures, a trend that may continue.
Extreme heat affects everyone and can lead to heat stroke, heat exhaustion, and dehydration. Those who work outdoors, children, older adults, and those with underlying health conditions are at particular risk for heat-related illnesses.
While we can’t change the weather, we can take steps to decrease heat-related illness for ourselves and others while still enjoying the fun of the summer. If you don’t have air conditioning, utilize fans to move air in your home, draw your curtains and blinds to block light and heat, stay hydrated, and use cold packs and wet garments around your neck to cool down. When outdoors recreating or working, make sure to take frequent breaks, stay hydrated, wear hats to protect your head and face, and take frequent breaks.
Everyone should know the signs and symptoms of heat-related illness and how to respond. Whether out and about or at home, check on your family, friends, and neighbors frequently. Heat-related illness and death is preventable with awareness, planning, and some simple steps. For more information, visit www.ready.gov/summer-ready
