SOUTH JORDAN — The City Council on Tuesday approved the city's first property tax increase in 14 years — an increase of 25.91 percent that will be offset by a yearly fee decrease of $34.20.

The increase was not without opposition — a public hearing stretched for nearly three hours. Residents spoke of their frustrations with seeing taxes increase, saying that while South Jordan taxes have not increased in years, taxes from any number of other taxing entities have, and the burden is getting heavy.

"I don't have a real problem with taxes," resident Jim Liddiard said. "I'm not on poverty row. But just because the city hasn't raised the tax rate in 14 years doesn't mean it's time to do it."

Others, however, said they had come to the meeting opposed to the increase but had been swayed by City Manager Rick Horst's presentation on its necessity.

"I am willing to pay the extra to live in this city," one resident said, saying she believed the council was making a financially responsible decision and cautioning it to continue to do so.

The council's action raises the city's property tax rate from 0.001756 to 0.002211. The property tax rate has been consistently going down — with a few exceptions as county responsibilities have been shifted to the city — over the past decade. State law forbids cities from acquiring revenues from property taxes that are higher from year to year except from new growth.

As a result, the tax rate typically goes down yearly — and increased valuation of homes does not result in increased taxes — until a truth-in-taxation hearing is held, allowing the rate to increase.

South Jordan's increase would bring the yearly tax on a $220,000 home from $212.48 to $267.53 — an increase of $55.05. But part of the increase is for street lighting, which is currently covered by a $34.20 yearly fee. That fee will go away, and compounded with the average tax deduction savings, the city estimates the new tax rate will mean a net increase of 73 cents monthly for a $220,000 home.

Horst said the idea is to put more of the tax burden on the city's emerging and quickly growing business base, which has been paying the same street lighting fee as residents. The increase also covers homeland security — money that will go to train police and fire crews and provide them with equipment to respond to anything from a suspicious package in a parking lot to a business receiving white powder in the mail. Horst said no one expects al-Qaida to strike South Jordan, but terrorism and copy-cat crimes come at all levels.

Horst said some lower-income residents with properties of lower value likely will see a tax decrease, while those who own more expensive homes or businesses will see a larger increase. But South Jordan remains near the middle in tax rates among Salt Lake Valley cities, with cities ranging in size from Herriman to Salt Lake City having higher property tax rates.

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