Holladay homeowners face higher property tax bills under Granite School District's proposed 11.2% rate increase for the 2026-27 school year. The districtwide hike would generate approximately $21.7 million in new revenue and directly affects families at Olympus High, Skyline High, and every other Granite school.
The district published its formal Notice of Proposed Tax Increase on Monday, July 21, triggering a Truth-in-Taxation process that culminates in a public hearing on Monday, August 18, at 6 p.m. Holladay residents can speak for or against the increase at that hearing.
How to weigh in
The Truth-in-Taxation public hearing is scheduled for Monday, August 18, 2026, at 6 p.m. The district's board meetings are held at the Granite Education Center, 2500 South State St., Salt Lake City, though residents should confirm the location at graniteschools.org before attending. Public comment is open to all district taxpayers.
The district's Property Tax Impact Schedule, which shows per-household costs for homes at various values, is available on the district's budget website.
Why the district says it needs the money
Business Administrator Todd Hauber presented the proposed increase to the board at its Tuesday, June 2, meeting, stating the rate would be 11.2% above the certified tax rate set by the state.
In its July Parent Link newsletter, the district said the proposed budget "prioritizes smaller class sizes, support for teachers, and funding to meet new state requirements for special education, preschool, and English language learners." The district also cited more than $12 million in state funding reductions, program eliminations, and unfunded mandates over the past two years.
Granite did not raise its tax rate in the 2025-26 fiscal year, according to the newsletter.
Budget pressures are compounded by declining enrollment. Salt Lake County's five school districts collectively lost 5,645 students in the 2025-26 school year, which the Salt Lake Tribune reported in December 2025 was the sharpest decline in over two decades, based on Utah State Board of Education data from fall enrollment counts. Granite's special education programs face a separate $3.5 million gap between projected and actual funding, according to a district FAQ published in July.
Board authorization
The board voted on Tuesday, June 16, to adopt preliminary tax rates and authorize the August 18 hearing. Hauber and fellow administrator Brian Ipson presented the budget at that meeting. Board President Nicole McDermott and Vice President Kris Nguyen led the session; individual vote tallies from June 16 have not been published.
Full budget documents are available at graniteschools.org.
