TAYLORSVILLE — Discussion of the city's first property tax increase will resume Wednesday night at city hall.

Despite inflationary increases, residents have paid the same property tax rates since Taylorsville became a city 10 years ago, said city administrator John Morgan. The City Council asked Morgan to list several tax alternatives to fund government services, including a possible 20 percent property tax increase.

"I don't think anybody likes tax increases," he said. "But when you run a government that provides services, you have inflationary costs, and you have to pay for those costs."

Many people assume the 20 percent increase is on their total property tax, but that is not the case, Morgan said. The average owner of a $200,000 house would pay an additional $30 that will fund police departments, firefighters, parks and senior citizen centers, he said.

"That sounds like a pretty good deal to me," he said.

Jerry Rechtenbach, City Council vice chairman, said he hasn't received any feedback yet from constituents on the proposed property-tax increase.

Morgan presented the proposed budget to the council two weeks ago and they adopted the tentative budget a week ago, he said. Final budget adoption is set for June 21.

"There are a lot of items on the budget and that's just one of the proposals on the table," Rechtenbach said. "We're either going to have to cut the service or increase the revenue, and one way to do that is through the property tax."

The City Council will meet at 6:30 p.m. to continue discussion on budget proposals. Morgan said the public is encouraged to attend.

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