Davis County property taxes to go up by 37 percent

FARMINGTON — Property taxes in Davis County are going up by 37 percent next year.

The Davis County Board of Commissioners today unanimously approved the county's $87.7 million budget for 2007, a budget that includes a property-tax increase of $60 per year on the average home valued at $171,000.

During a public hearing Dec. 13, county residents and business owners showed up to protest the tax hike, and of the 15 people who spoke during the hearing, only two supported the increase.

"None of us enjoy paying higher property tax," said Commissioner Carol Page. "We certainly have empathy for them and their concerns that were expressed that evening."

The tax increase alone is expected to bring in $7 million per year to county coffers. The money from the increase will be used in three county departments: the Davis County Sheriff's Office, Davis County Public Works and the county's division of Senior Services.

Since the summer, commissioners have been talking about the county's highest priorities for the 2007 budget, and highest on their list was funding the operations of the newly expanded Davis County Jail, which will begin housing inmates in the spring.

Voters approved a bond to build the jail during the 2003 election, with the understanding that a tax increase would be needed for jail operations down the road once the jail was completed, Page said.

Tax-increase dollars are also earmarked for repairs and upgrades to the county's 19 flood-control channels, which are eroding and decaying near homes and under major roads.

The rest of the tax increase is slated to pay for five new Meals on Wheels vans, new kitchen equipment and to take the burden off overworked employees in the Davis County Division of Senior Services.

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E-mail: jdougherty@desnews.com