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House Speaker Greg Hughes said Wednesday that a special session of the Legislature is likely in November to fix a new law that is giving cities less than they expected from a nickel-per-gallon gasoline tax hike.

Distribution formulas — which had been supported by cities and counties — ended up not reflecting legislative intent, and gave several cities less than a 17.5 percent increase they were promised, he said. Some small counties ended up with more than was intended.

Hughes told the House Republican Caucus that the League of Cities and Towns and the Utah Association of Counties have been working on a solution.

The state had temporarily withheld distribution of gas-tax money to local governments while that was resolved.

Hughes said a bill will be ready for a special session in November, likely the same day as scheduled interim meetings. He also told lawmakers that leaders would resist efforts to add other items to the special session.

As an example of problems that some cities faced, Midvale Mayor JoAnn Seghini recently said her city received $71,215 less than expected this year from gas-tax revenue, and cited that as among factors prompting Midvale to more than double its property tax this year.

The Utah League of Cities and Towns (ULCT) has said cities overall are being shortchanged by some $8.5 million by problems with the gas-tax formula.