Your Daily Guide

Utah Supreme Court Justice Steps Down

Justice Diana Hagen has resigned from the Utah Supreme Court following scrutiny over her relationships with attorneys involved in Utah’s redistricting lawsuit. In a letter to Gov. Spencer Cox, Hagen said she didn’t want the ongoing public attention to further impact her family or the functioning of the court. [FOX 13]

A Michelin Moment for Utah This Summer?

Utah restaurants will find out this August whether they’re getting Michelin stars now that the MICHELIN Guide officially includes the Southwest region. The awards ceremony, featuring restaurants from Utah, Arizona, Nevada, and New Mexico, will take place Aug. 26 in Las Vegas. [Gastronomic SLC]

Sugar House Brewery Files for Bankruptcy

Kiitos Brewing has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection just months after opening its highly anticipated Sugar House location. The brewery plans to keep operating while it reorganizes financially. [Salt Lake Tribune 🔒]

Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall unveiled her proposed fiscal year 2027 budget this week, outlining a $498.9 million General Fund spending plan. While the total cost of running the city tops $2 billion, the General Fund is the resident-funded portion (covered by property taxes, sale taxes fees, fines, etc.). In other words: It’s our money, so let’s look at where it’s going.

The Property Tax & Utility Increases

One of the biggest headlines in this year’s proposed budget is the 12.5% property tax increase, which the mayor says would generate $13.5 million to help offset inflation, rising labor costs, and shrinking federal support. For a Salt Lake home valued at $624,000, that’s about $9.87 more per month.

Your monthly utility bill is also expected to climb: For a single-family household, that could mean about $14 for water (for low-water users), $11 for sewer, and $3 for waste and recycling service, $2.60 for street lighting, and $1.75 for stormwater.

If you’re doing the math, with property tax and utility changes, the average household could end up paying about $42 more per month.

Big Pieces of the Pie

The police department (28%) and the fire department (12%) combined make up about 40% of the budget.

• $142 million: Police department (including a full-time drone pilot for the SLCPD’s Real Time Crime Center)
• $59.3 million: Fire department (including staffing, operation, maintenance and the Wildland Firefighting Expansion)

Notable Line Items

• $11.3 million: Parks
• $11 million: Street maintenance (including $1.5 million for ADA sidewalk and crossing upgrades)
• $10 million: Affordable housing
• $800K: YouthCity and family programming restoration after federal cuts
• $400K: Bee-themed lamp posts for the 2027 Salt Lake Temple reopening
• $330K: Volunteers of America Homeless Outreach team and Shelter the Homeless

How To Weigh In

The SLC Council has until June 30 to approve a final version of the budget, and residents can share their feedback before then.

📝 Email council.comments@slc.gov.

📞 Leave a voice message at (801) 535-7654.

🏙️ Attend a public hearing on Tuesday, May 19 or Tuesday, June 2 at 7 p.m.