Sen. Howard Stephenson, R-Draper, president of the Utah Taxpayers Association, said that sales tax from IKEA came on board in 2007, "Yet in that very year, we're proposing a 90 percent increase in property tax. ... We would hope it would curtail the need for a significant property tax increase hike."

Council members debated the hike, especially a new fire station in SunCrest that would cost $1.75 million just to staff annually, millions that have been set aside for road repairs, a recreation department and town center.

"To me, the most important thing is to have public safety," Councilwoman Stephanie Davis said. "I'm willing to have a small tax increase for public safety, but for nothing else."

Retorted Councilman Paul Edwards, "I can do without a recreation department. I can do without a town center," he said. But, "We have roads in SunCrest that are in severe jeopardy of falling apart. We don't even have the money to go in and fix those roads."

---

E-mail: astowell@desnews.com