1 in 11 governments raising taxes this year

It's a sign of tough times in an election year. Only one of every 11 local governments in Utah is proposing to raise property taxes this year.

That gives residents a break in the economic recession. It also comes during election year for Utah's cities and towns, when residents might just punish politicians who do raise taxes.

About 44 out of Utah's approximately 520 local governments that charge property tax from cities to counties, school districts, water districts and even mosquito abatement districts are proposing to raise tax revenues enough to trigger truth-in-taxation hearings with residents, according to data compiled by the Utah State Tax Commission.

Last year, for example, 81 local governments raised taxes nearly twice as many as those proposing to do so this year.

Amounts of proposed tax hikes this year vary greatly but generally are smaller than in recent years.

The biggest would be $533 on a $250,000 home in Green River, a town that has not charged a city property tax at all recently.

City recorder Conae Black says city fathers took the property tax off about 15 years ago when the council adopted a new legislative-authorized resort sales tax. "We've been trying to get by since," she said, counting on tourism to pay for needed services. But deteriorating roads and other needs have proved too much for the city budget.

"It has been very hard to get the (city) property tax put back on," she said.

The City Council will hold a truth-in-taxation hearing Aug. 11 at 7:30 p.m. in City Hall to hear from property owners about the proposed tax hike.

"People want the services but don't want to pay for them," said Black, a complaint routinely heard from local officials. No other Green River city taxes will be lowered as an offset, she said. "We also haven't raised our water and sewer fees in years, and there are needs there as well," although no other increases are suggested.

Some other hefty property tax hikes include the town of Sunnyside, Carbon County, $357 on a $250,000 house; Grantsville, $147; Summit County Service Area 5, $131; Goshen, Utah County, $88; Hatch, Garfield County, $84; Woodland Hills, Utah County, $60; and Utah County Service Area No. 6, $60.

All the entities raising taxes significantly have hard stories to tell. A spokeswoman for Sunnyside said the small town at the foot of the Book Cliffs, population 330, contracts with East Carbon City for its police protection.