Tax rates vary greatly along Front

Doyle Jensen enjoys spectacular views from his home atop Traverse Ridge in Draper.

"We can see all the way to the Great Salt Lake," he said.

But that comes at a price for him and his neighbors — the highest property taxes along the Wasatch Front.

"I'm not surprised. We knew taxes here were high," Jensen said when told the news.

Property taxes on Traverse Ridge cost $2,038 a year on a $200,000 home.

That is 72 percent higher, or $855 a year more, than the lowest-taxed, occupied area along the Wasatch Front — tiny, rural Cedar Fort in Utah County. Taxes there are $1,183 a year on a $200,000 home. (Antelope Island in the Great Salt Lake has even lower taxes. Some concessionaires at its state park, however, pay personal property tax to Davis County.)

"Yes, we know taxes are low here, and we try hard to keep them low," said Cedar Fort Mayor Jeanine Cook.

In fact, she refuses the salary she is allowed as part-time mayor in order to help hold down costs. Her town had not raised taxes in the nine years she has been in public office, until this year.

"The county made us pay for half of a sheriff's officer this year," costing $33,000, she explained.

The town had paid only $1,500 for county police protection in recent years. Paying the additional money forced the town to raise its share of property taxes by 27 percent.

A Deseret Morning News review of records in Weber, Davis, Salt Lake and Utah counties shows residents in 551 out of the 659 separate taxing districts had taxes raised this year. Property taxes are due at the end of this month. (Taxes are lower in 100 taxing districts, and comparisons were not possible for eight districts.)

The average tax rate in the four counties would bring a bill of $1,549 on a $200,000 home, up 1.7 percent from last year.

Averages for each separate county (in descending order) are: Salt Lake County, $1,647 on a $200,000 home, up 1.3 percent; Weber County, $1,462, up 2.1 percent; Davis County, $1,365, up 0.8 percent; and Utah County, $1,357, up 4.7 percent.

A total of 150 local governments — including cities, counties, water districts, school districts, library districts, recreation districts, cemetery districts and even mosquito abatement districts — charge property taxes along the Wasatch Front.

The Morning News found that about half — 74 of them — raised taxes, 69 lowered taxes and seven kept the same tax rate as last year. All 10 school districts in those counties raised taxes, as did 33 of 66 cities, one of four counties, two of four library districts and 28 of 95 water or special service districts.

Valuation's impact