Sunset OKs property tax hike

SUNSET — The Sunset city budget has $44,000 more now, following a tax increase approved Tuesday evening.

The City Council approved the measure 4-1, with Councilwoman Cheryl Budge casting the dissenting vote.

Councilman Ricky Carlson told residents it was a hard decision to even propose a tax increase in a slumping economy.

But the money will be used to make up a shortfall that exists after the city instituted a hiring freeze and cut out cost-of-living or merit raises for employees. A police car and a dump truck that had originally been part of the budget are no longer there, as well.

The tax increase changes the revenue collected from property taxes in Sunset from $155,941 to $200,000, a 28 percent increase.

That means that the average home in Sunset, valued at $131,000, will see the city portion of property taxes increase from $83 to $107, a $24 per year increase.

Councilman Ryan Furniss likened the increase to what he called "The Diet Coke Test," or by eliminating two sodas per month, residents could afford the tax increase.

About 30 residents attended the meeting, and some asked the council to look at future ways to bring revenue to the city through other means besides property taxes.

Sunset, a city of about 5,000, has a limited commercial base, with a total budget of $3.9 million for the current fiscal year, which began July 1.

Sunset resident Shirl Rawson said if the city needs the tax revenue to keep emergency services running, he doesn't have a problem with paying the taxes.

"Use them responsibly," Rawson said.

Furniss said he was skeptical about how city funds were spent before he joined the council, but has been impressed at how city employees do more with less.

"These department heads are efficient," he said.

e-mail: jdougherty@desnews.com