Midvale may raise property taxes

MIDVALE — Midvale is considering a property tax increase that would add about $35 to the average household's annual bill.

The 12 percent increase would help fund services that will be needed in the Bingham Junction development, which is being built on a former Superfund site to the west of town, said city manager Kane Loader.

If the increase goes through, full-time law enforcement and firefighters would be added, as would a full-time position in parks and recreation.

The increase would help make up for the fact that Midvale has never charged impact fees on new construction, Loader said. Midvale has required developers to donate and develop green space.

Loader also attributes the proposed increase to flat, or even negative, sales tax revenues. Construction businesses, once a tax revenue cash cow, are suffering and retail firms have been unable to make up the difference.

Midvale hasn't raised taxes since 2005, when rates went up 15 percent.

Midvale is courting big-box stores for the Bingham Junction development. The city expects to start receiving tax revenues from the mixed-use, transit-oriented development as early as the end of 2008.

During the 2008 fiscal year, Midvale received about $2.8 million of its $16.8 million budget from property taxes. The proposed increase would add about $330,000 to the budget.

Midvale will hold a truth-in-taxation hearing Aug. 12 regarding the increase in property tax. It will also hold a public hearing on the 2008-09 tentative budget June 3.

---

E-mail: rpalmer@desnews.com

Comments

• Most Popular
• Most Commented

1. Hostages tell of little food, deprivations
2. Mascaro says Utah GOP leaders 'stoop low'
3. Utah Jazz notes: Smith, Fredman given new responsibilities with ballclub
4. LDS get final OK on project
5. MormonTimes.com: Virtual Mormons get a 'Second Life' -- Part 2
6. Man accused of witchcraft threats in rape case
7. BYU, Utah Utes football: O-lines may be key to MWC race
8. Bosnian family grateful to U.S. for their new life
9. Fit to be tied: Real Salt Lake, Houston battle to a scoreless draw
10. Utah Jazz notebook: Celtics, Spurs, Heat join bidding for Maggette

1. 'The leader we need is you,' Beck tells 17,000 at BYU 207
2. The case of the anti-Mormons 186
3. LDS get final OK on project 175
4. Death penalty has purpose 173
5. BYU, Utah Utes football: O-lines may be key to MWC race 136
6. Utah Utes football: Utah's man — Injury-free Johnson rarin' to go for Utes 129
7. Russia's little hero: Ex-Cougar is invited to join Russia's Olympic camp 123
8. Mom charged with negligent homicide in tot's heat-related death in Layton 97
9. GOP, Big Oil push shale in Utah 96
10. Texas county doesn't want FLDS raid costs 75
11. (Stories published in the last five days with the most comments)

• A & E
• LDS news
• Sports