Starting Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026, electricity and natural gas bills in West Haven will carry a new city tax of 6%. The West Haven City Council approved it June 17, 2026, by a 3–2 vote, as part of adopting the city's 2026–2027 budget.
The tax is not new on paper. The city's notice of public hearing states that West Haven enacted the Municipal Energy Sales and Use Tax on May 20, 1998, and that "it has not been implemented for the past 28 years." The council's action, Resolution 20-2026, reaffirmed that 1998 ordinance and authorized the city manager to submit it to the Utah State Tax Commission.
West Haven does not charge a city property tax. Council member Ryan Saunders said at the meeting that West Haven is "one of 3 cities that do not collect property tax," according to the minutes. Mayor Rob Vanderwood told KSL.com the energy tax was chosen to keep it that way: "We don't want our residents to be overburdened with taxes, so we're trying to keep the property tax out."
West Haven will collect 6% on electricity and natural gas starting Oct. 1, 2026. The city expects about $900,000 in the first nine months and about $1.2 million in a full year. The rate is the highest state law allows. The council split 3–2 after one member suggested 4%.
What changes on your bill
The hearing notice describes the tax as "a tax on every sale or use of taxable energy within the City, equal to 6% of the value of the taxable energy delivered to the consumer." In practice, that means Rocky Mountain Power and Enbridge Gas customers in West Haven will see the tax added to their bills. City Manager Shawn Warnke said the city's revenue estimate was based on figures the city requested from those two companies.
| Before Oct. 1 | Starting Oct. 1 | |
|---|---|---|
| City property tax | None | None |
| City energy tax on electricity | None | 6% of delivered value |
| City energy tax on natural gas | None | 6% of delivered value |
| Who pays | Every power and gas customer in the city, owners and renters, homes and businesses |
From the city's hearing notice and the June 17, 2026 minutes. The ordinance as quoted in the notice applies to "every sale or use of taxable energy within the City." The records reviewed don't break down how much comes from homes versus businesses.
Key dates
From 1998 to the first bill
- May 20, 1998West Haven enacts Ordinance 14-1998, a 6% municipal energy sales and use tax. It is never collected.
- April 28, 2026Council adopts the tentative 2026–2027 budget (Resolution 19-2026).
- May 6 and June 3, 2026Council work sessions list "Implementing a New Tax (Municipal Energy Tax)" as part of the budget discussion.
- May 28, 2026City posts its notice of public hearing on the Utah Public Notice Website.
- June 17, 2026Public hearing; one resident speaks. Council adopts Resolution 20-2026, 3–2, and the final budget, 4–1.
- July 1, 2026Council approves the June 17 minutes.
- Oct. 1, 2026The 6% energy tax takes effect. Weber County's new 0.20% sales tax takes effect the same day.
Estimate the tax on your own bills
West Haven energy tax estimate
A rough estimate: 6% of the amounts you enter. The tax is figured on the energy's delivered value, which may not match your total bill exactly if it includes other charges. The starting amounts are examples only, not city figures. KSL.com reported about $11 a month for the average household.
The vote
The June 17 minutes record the discussion and the roll call on Resolution 20-2026. Council member Carrie Call "suggested using 4% instead of 6%." The minutes don't record a separate motion or vote on 4%. Council member Kim Dixon moved to adopt the resolution at 6%, and Saunders seconded.
| Council member | Resolution 20-2026 (6% energy tax) | Final 2026–27 budget |
|---|---|---|
| Kim Dixon | Yes (motion) | Yes |
| Ryan Swapp | Yes | Yes |
| Ryan Saunders | Yes (second) | Yes (motion) |
| Carrie Call | No | No |
| Nina Morse | No | Yes (second) |
West Haven City Council minutes, June 17, 2026, items 12 and 14; approved July 1, 2026. Mayor Rob Vanderwood presided. KSL.com reported that the two members voting no had proposed 4% instead of 6%.
Why the city says it needs the money
Council members and the mayor gave these reasons on the record at the June 17 meeting, as summarized in the minutes:
| Who | What the minutes record |
|---|---|
| Mayor Rob Vanderwood | Walmart construction delays mean the city isn't yet receiving sales tax from that store. The city has no property tax, and because the energy tax "was already adopted it allowed for another option to be able to stay ahead of the possible deficits in the upcoming budgets." The council "has worked to slow the growth down and that has effected the budget." |
| Council member Ryan Swapp | The Sheriff's contract has "a 7.6% increase this fiscal year and will increase by 17% next fiscal year," due to wages "that needed to be reassessed to address retention of employees." He supports 6% "because of increasing costs." |
| Council member Ryan Saunders | Public safety is "one of the largest costs within the budget." The Sheriff's contract increase and "the decrease from building" were "the largest deciding factor for him." He is "in favor of this tax but not a big fan of taxes in general." |
| City Manager Shawn Warnke | The roughly $900,000 estimate covers three quarters of a year, and the tax would go into effect Oct. 1, 2026. A full year would be about $1.2 million. |
Quotes are from the minutes, which summarize what was said rather than transcribe it.
The records reviewed for this case file don't show the budget's overall deficit projection or the dollar amount of the Sheriff's contract for 2026–27. The May 6 minutes list one payment to the Weber County Sheriff of $560,556 (invoice #75217).
What the public said
One resident spoke at the June 17 public hearing. The minutes record that David Foust:
- "expressed concern about the energy tax being approved in 1998 and not being implemented until now"
- "expressed concern about people in the community on a fixed income having to compensate for this new tax"
- "argued that the new Walmart would allow for quite a bit of sales tax revenue"
- "felt the city expanded faster than could be accounted for in long term infrastructure and that was the reason for the tax being implemented"
After the hearing closed, the mayor said that had the tax been collected since 1998, "it would have cost the citizens quite a bit of money," and that evaluating the tax "has been tough." Council member Dixon responded on growth that "property owners can sell their land at any point," that the Legislature "dictates what the City's can and cannot do," and that the city manages growth through zoning.
A second tax starts the same day
Oct. 1, 2026 is also the day Weber County's new 0.20% sales tax takes effect. In West Haven, the combined sales tax rate goes from 7.25% to 7.45%. West Haven's estimated share of the cities' transportation money from that tax is about $270,851 a year, according to Wasatch Front Regional Council estimates reported by KSL.com. That money is for transportation only; the energy tax goes to the city budget.
The two taxes are separate decisions by separate governments. See A Public Vote, but No Vote by the Public for the county's sales tax, and MAP 008 to see West Haven's rate next to every other Weber County city.
Grades, and what could be done better
The decision is graded on The Weber County Hive's five standing questions. Grades reflect what the public record shows, not the conduct of any individual.
A C means the record meets what Utah law requires, the status quo. A B or A means the city went beyond it, and the record shows it. D means something is vague or bundled, or a public check is weakened; F means something required is missing, or a check is removed with nothing in its place.
West Haven's 6% municipal energy tax (Resolution 20-2026)
What could have been done better for the public
| What the record shows | An option that keeps the same goal |
|---|---|
| The hearing notice gave the rate but no dollar estimate | Include the expected revenue and a typical household's monthly cost in the notice |
| The revenue estimate was based on utility figures that weren't posted | Post the figures from Rocky Mountain Power and Enbridge behind the estimate |
| The size of the budget gap isn't shown in the records reviewed | Publish the projected deficit the tax is meant to cover, next to the tax |
| A 4% option was raised at the vote | Publish what 4% would raise and what would be cut, so the public can compare |
| Fixed-income residents were raised at the hearing | Say whether any relief or assistance was considered, and why or why not |
What the record shows was done, and what's still open
What the record shows was done
- Hearing notice posted May 28 for a June 17 hearing
- Tax listed on May and June work session agendas
- Public hearing held before the vote
- Revenue estimate and its basis stated at the meeting
- Reasons for the tax and each member's vote recorded in the minutes
- A lower rate was raised and discussed on the record
What residents don't have yet
- The projected deficit the tax is meant to cover
- How much comes from homes versus businesses
- What 4% would have raised
- Whether any relief for fixed-income residents was considered
- The Tax Commission's listing of the new rate (not found in the records reviewed)
Questions readers are asking
When does it start?
I rent. Do I pay it?
Do businesses pay it?
Is 6% the most a city can charge?
Why wasn't this collected since 1998?
Is this instead of a property tax?
Where does the money go?
| Who can answer what the record doesn't | How to reach them |
|---|---|
| West Haven City Council | Meets the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays, 4150 South 3900 West; comment time is set aside at each meeting |
| West Haven City Recorder | Emily Green, 801-731-4519, emilyg@westhavenut.gov (as listed on the city's hearing notice) |
Meeting schedule from the city's posted agendas. Asking at a council meeting puts the question and the answer on the public record.
What we're looking at next
Have a tip on this story, or a record we should see? Email webercountyhive@gmail.com.
Sources
- West Haven City, "Notice of Public Hearing-Reaffirming Municipal Energy Sales and Use Tax," posted May 28, 2026, Utah Public Notice Website (notice 1084429): 6% rate; Ordinance 14-1998 enacted May 20, 1998; "not been implemented for the past 28 years."
- West Haven City Council minutes, June 17, 2026, approved July 1, 2026, Utah Public Notice Website (file 1458397.pdf): public hearing, Resolution 20-2026 roll call (3–2), Resolution 21-2026 final budget (4–1), revenue estimate, statements by the mayor and council members. Read via text extraction.
- West Haven City Council agenda and minutes packet, May 6, 2026, Utah Public Notice Website (file 1440365.pdf): "Implementing a New Tax (Municipal Energy Tax)" work session item; April 28, 2026 Resolution 19-2026 tentative budget; Weber County Sheriff payment of $560,556. Read via text extraction.
- West Haven City Council agenda, June 17, 2026, Utah Public Notice Website (file 1447837.pdf): work session and public hearing items. Agenda text read from a search excerpt; the full packet was not read.
- KSL.com, Tim Vandenack, "West Haven, which doesn't tax property, opts instead for new energy tax to boost revenue," July 7, 2026 (about $11 a month or $132 a year for the average household; $905,000 in fiscal 2026–27; mayor's quotes; two members proposed 4%).
- Utah Code Section 10-1-304, Municipal energy sales and use tax (2025), rate of "up to 6% of the delivered value of the taxable energy."
- KSL.com, "Weber County sales tax taking effect Oct. 1 expected to generate $13.1M a year," Sept. 17, 2026 (West Haven transportation share estimate), and Utah State Tax Commission sales and use tax rate charts.
- The Weber County Hive, "Every Weber County Property Tax Increase Since 2019" (no West Haven Truth in Taxation increase found in the records reviewed).
- The Weber County Hive's collective rubric (power, transparency, financial accountability, environmental impact, community impact).
- Monthly and yearly calculator results are Hive calculations at 6% of amounts the reader enters.
Public records only. No comment requested.