Granite School District is proposing a $21.1 million property tax increase for the 2026-27 school year, and Millcreek-area homeowners will get their chance to weigh in at a public hearing on August 18, before the board votes on the final rate.

The district posted its official Notice of Proposed Tax Increase on July 21. The hearing will be held at 6 p.m. in the district board room at the Granite Education Center, 2500 South State Street, South Salt Lake. Residents may speak during the public comment period.

What the increase covers

The proposed hike spans two levies: $15.6 million in the board local levy for day-to-day operations and $5.5 million in the capital local levy for building projects, according to the district's budget development page. The district has published a property tax impact schedule on that page showing estimated increases by home value, based on an average assessed value of $578,600 in the district.

Why the district is asking again

Much of this proposed increase was originally part of a 2025-26 tax hike that never took effect. The Utah State Tax Commission denied that increase on a procedural technicality: the district had printed agendas for its Truth in Taxation hearing and its regular August board meeting on a single sheet of paper instead of two separate sheets, violating requirements under SB 202. A court upheld the denial on appeal.

The district responded by cutting $850,000 from central administration, freezing non-school hiring, and funding priorities with one-time reserves. Business Administrator Todd Hauber presented the 2026-27 budget at the board's June 16, meeting, telling members the district also trimmed $3.3 million from department budgets after requiring each department to prepare a 5% cut plan.

Board President Nicole McDermott asked what would happen if the increase failed. Hauber's response: "We will be 21 million dollars short of balancing the budget and we would have to go to budget reductions, immediately."

Where the money would go

The district's spending plan directs the largest shares toward K-2 class size reduction ($4 million), instructional coaches ($4.5 million), and school rebuilds and remodels ($4.5 million). Other line items include school safety guardians ($1.6 million), elementary teacher prep time ($1.4 million), an English learner software program ($750,000), and a gang prevention program ($494,000).

Board member Karyn Winder noted at the June 16 meeting that the school guardian program and postpartum parental leave are unfunded mandates from the Utah Legislature, meaning the district must fund them regardless of whether the tax increase passes.

The board vote

Board member Kim Chandler cast the lone "no" vote on both the interim budget and the preliminary tax rate at the June 16 meeting. She said she would not support raising property taxes while the district continues spending on Social-Emotional Learning programs and Chromebook costs she considers unresolved.

The remaining six members — McDermott, Vice President Kris Nguyen, Connie Burgess, Clarke Nelson, Winder, and Julie Jackson, who participated virtually — voted yes on the budget and tax rate. All seven voted unanimously to authorize the August 18 hearing.

The August 18, hearing at 6 p.m. is the public's only scheduled opportunity to address the board before it sets the final 2026-27 tax rate.