Holladay families have two weeks left before Olympus and Skyline high school students return to class on Wednesday, Aug. 12, and one more chance to weigh in on a proposed 11.2% property tax increase before the Granite School District board votes.

The board held its last regular meeting of the summer on Tuesday, Aug. 4, at 5 p.m. at the Granite Education Center, 2500 South State St., Salt Lake City. Full minutes had not been posted as of Aug. 4, and the published agenda listed only a welcome and introductions by board members in its publicly viewable portion.

Tax hearing set for Aug. 18

The bigger date on Holladay families' calendars is Tuesday, Aug. 18, at 6 p.m., when the board holds its Truth-in-Taxation public hearing on the proposed rate increase. The hearing is open to all district taxpayers.

If approved, the 11.2% hike would generate approximately $21.7 million in new revenue districtwide, according to figures Business Administrator Todd Hauber presented to the board on June 2. The board voted June 16 to adopt preliminary tax rates and authorize the Aug. 18 hearing, with Board President Nicole McDermott and Vice President Kris Nguyen leading that session.

In its July Parent Link newsletter, the district said the proposed budget prioritizes smaller class sizes, teacher support, and funding to meet new state requirements for special education, preschool, and English language learners. Granite cited more than $12 million in state funding reductions, program eliminations, and unfunded mandates over the past two years as justification for the increase.

Granite did not raise its property tax rate in the 2025-26 fiscal year. In a statement to KUTV in July, the district said it has cut over $7 million in operational costs in the last two years and shifted more funding toward classrooms.

The proposed increase has drawn mixed reactions. In comments reported by KUTV on July 21, Granite taxpayer Monica Wilbur told the board she thinks "many residents are realizing why they'll never own their own home." Utah Taxpayers Association President Billy Hesterman, commenting on multiple districts' proposed hikes, urged that taxpayers' money be spent responsibly.

Zach Myers, father of a fourth-grader in the district, took the opposite view at a board session reported July 21, arguing the district should spend more on students because class sizes are growing too large.

As we reported July 23, Granite's special education programs also face a separate $3.5 million gap between projected and actual state funding.

What Holladay families need to know

The Truth-in-Taxation hearing is Tuesday, Aug. 18, at 6 p.m. at the Granite Education Center, 2500 South State St., Salt Lake City. The district's Property Tax Impact Schedule, showing estimated costs at various home values, is available at graniteschools.org.