Heber plans to raise taxes, utility rates in 2011

HEBER (Deseret News) — The Heber City Council is working on a "bare-bones" budget for the 2009-10 fiscal year and will likely raise property taxes and utility rates in the 2011 budget cycle, according to city manager Mark Anderson.

The city has lost three positions by attrition this year and is not planning to replace them, Anderson said. The 2010 budget also skimps on capital projects. In addition, remaining city employees will get neither cost-of-living increases nor performance raises this year, according to preliminary figures.

"It is not a fun time to be balancing budgets in government," Anderson said. "It's a pretty bare-bones kind of thing."

The budget could be reopened based on figures from Wasatch County regarding taxable property value.

Like many other Utah cities, Heber is bracing for low sales-tax revenues over the summer. If the economy remains grim by August, the county seat may have to consider employee layoffs, Anderson said.

A bright spot in the Heber budget outlook is a Wal-Mart store slated to open this year. Though its construction was controversial, tax revenues from the new superstore could help keep major city services on track. Original Article