Salt Lake water district won't raise taxes

The Metropolitan Water District, which supplies water to Salt Lake City and Sandy residents, will not raise taxes this year.

The district had proposed to raise taxes by about 50 percent, which would have raised around $3 million for staff and increased operating costs.

But the board decided against the increase based on input it received from the cities and residents affected, said Mike Wilson, assistant general manager.

"They've made some changes to the budget and they're just going to defer the discussion until a future point of time," Wilson said. That future point of time will likely be next year's round of budget hearings.

The district will cover anticipated losses from a lack of tax increase by taking money from its reserves and making smaller cuts elsewhere, Wilson said.

Salt Lake City council members had questioned the necessity of a tax increase, noting that as a percentage it was much higher than raises proposed by any other public entity.