Kearns district rescinds tax boost

The 40,000 people who receive their water and sewer service from the Kearns Improvement District will not see a property-tax increase after all this year.

The district's Board of Trustees voted 2-1 to rescind the 11-18 percent property-tax increase it had tentatively approved in December. The December vote raised the tax rate, but the state's Truth in Taxation law requires the new rate to be officially adopted in June after taxing entities receive their certified tax rate.

The certified tax rate is the rate that would bring a taxing entity the same revenue from property taxes as it received last year. Unlike other taxes, property taxes are considered to have increased if the total revenue collected increases, not the rate. Because of changes in home values, rates and revenues do not always directly correspond.

The vote to rescind the proposed increase came at the request of district trustee Royce Gibson. The proposed increase would have brought in an additional $90,000 to $150,000, costing the average property owner about $7 to $12 yearly.