From Deseret News archives:

Taxes due — Overlapping boundaries result in higher charges

Deseret News

Published: Saturday, Oct. 28, 2006 11:13 p.m. MDT

| E-MAIL | PRINT | FONT + -

Page:
1
2
3
4
5
6
Next >

Shadow Mountain Lane sits high on Ogden's bench, where big homes overlook the valley below. The crisscrossing boundaries of local governments there place four of the homes into their own, small property "tax area," one with a special distinction.

It has Utah's highest property-tax rates for a residential area. In fact, its rates are three times higher than the state's least-taxed area (in unincorporated Kane County).

"We knew that taxes were high here. But we didn't know they were the highest in the state. I guess it's not that big of a surprise, though," says Kathleen Alder, a Shadow Mountain Lane resident.

Property-tax notices statewide will be mailed in the next few days, and taxes are due on Nov. 30. Some unpleasant surprises may be in store for many property owners — although they may take some solace knowing that, at least, their news is not as bad as that on Shadow Mountain Lane.

A Deseret Morning News analysis of State Tax Commission data shows:

• One of about every seven local governments hiked property taxes this year. That is the highest number of governments increasing taxes at the same time in at least 16 years.

Story continues below

• More than 500 local governments in Utah (cities, school districts, counties, special districts, etc.) are collecting a record combined total of $1.66 billion this year, or nearly $140 million more than last year. That is about a 9 percent increase.

• Six local governments are more than doubling taxes, and eight others are raising them by at least 50 percent. The biggest hike by percentage is by the Central Iron County Water Conservancy District around Cedar City. Its taxes are up 697 percent, jumping from $9.49 last year on a $250,000 home to $75.63 now.

• Eight local governments are raising taxes by more than $100 each on a $250,000 home. The biggest hike is by the town of Ballard, Uintah County, where such a home would face an increase of nearly $328.

• Some governments in highly populated areas are among those with the biggest tax increases. On a $250,000 home, West Valley City, the state's second-largest city, raised its share of taxes by $201; Ogden School District raised them by $188; and South Salt Lake raised them by nearly $225.

• Taxes vary widely across Utah. The most expensive area has taxes of about $2,493 on a $250,000 home. The least expensive area would have just $851 in taxes on a home of the same value — a difference of $1,642.