Alta officials rethink tax hike

ALTA — This tiny ski town on the Salt Lake Valley's east side is pulling back on a proposed 10 percent property-tax increase for the 2009-10 fiscal year.

The proposal would have raised taxes by about $44 per year for an $850,000 home. The change would have garnered an additional $23,145, according to documents made public Wednesday.

After a public meeting earlier this month, the mayor and Town Council asked budget officials to take another look at the budget and do away with the proposed increase, said Alta clerk Kate Black.

Since then, town officials have proposed a new budget that reduces funds for tourism and promotion instead of requiring more money.

Alta Mayor Tom Pollard said the budget is small enough that no major surgery was required to cut the tax increase.

"We just didn't feel that a property-tax increase was a good move at this time," Pollard said.

The proposed budget keeps town employees' wages and salaries in place and calls for sewer fees to increase about 15 percent. Overall, the tiny town plans to operate with a $1.1 million general fund.

The proposal shows that Alta, like many other Utah municipalities, is expecting less in sales-tax revenue for 2009-10 than it received in 2008-09. Town officials hope to balance the books by holding off on major renovations and delaying purchase of a new police vehicle, Black said.

"Residents won't see direct affect but could see something indirectly," Black said.

The town will hold a final public hearing on the budget at 10 a.m. June 18 in the Alta Municipal Building on Main Street. Later during that meeting, the Town Council will vote on the budget proposals.

E-mail: rpalmer@desnews.com