Well, here is more evidence that our political world is upside down these days.
The Utah Taxpayers Association — which has a solid history of opposing property tax hikes by state and local governments and school districts — is actually in favor of a “tax adjustment” down in Utah County.
The three-member County Commission, led by commissioners Tanner Ainge and Nathan Ivie, has proposed doubling of the county’s main property tax levy — or a 100 percent hike.
While the UTA’s support statement for the county increasing its property tax says a 100 percent hike is too much, it does favor some adjustment upwards.
On the house worth $334,000, the county tax would go from $123.45 to $246.90 a year, paid each November.
Now, several entities levy a property tax in Utah County. And including all the taxing entities, the tax currently on a $334,000 home is $1,989 a year.
Here is the complete Utah Taxpayers Association statement on Utah County’s proposed property tax hike.
Here is a Utah County newspaper report on the property tax issue.
Commissioner Bill Lee, who single-handily stopped a citizen vote this year on a change in the form of county government (where he would have lost his county commissioner salary), is against the tax hike.
But then Lee has been on the commission for five years, and oversaw the county dipping into its financial reserves (deficit spending) rather than address the budget problems previously, says Angie, who joined the commission last January.
A public hearing on the proposed tax hikes will be at 6 p.m. Dec. 11, in the commission chambers, and should be a lively affair.
UTA vice president Rusty Cannon told UtahPolicy that the association recommends that every “five to eight years” any property-taxing entity look at going through Truth in Taxation hearings and recapturing some of the taxes it has lost through normal inflation.
“The problem is Utah County has only done that once (in the 30 years of the Truth in Taxation law).”
So the problem of underfunding essential county services “just festers,” said Cannon.
Cannon said he and his staff have been working with county officials on their budget, and he hopes that ultimately, the commission will adopt a tax hike of only about half of what has been proposed, not the 100 percent increase.
“We believe half is about right in recapturing what they have lost through (housing) inflation,” he added.
The UTA has been more politically active over the last few years. Last year, in a different turn for the association, its staff issued a “report” on then-Salt Lake County Mayor Ben McAdams’ tax history. McAdams, a Democrat, was challenging then-U.S. Rep. Mia Love, R-Utah, in the 4th Congressional District.
McAdams ended up beating Love, despite the association’s criticism of how McAdams’ was portraying his tax record.
Cannon, who joined the association after that report, said the group still plans on “fact-checking” any campaign when the issue deals with taxes.
That would be considered a public service on a tax issue “that is well within our wheelhouse.”
