With an increase in some property tax levies looming large, Carbon County officials held a public open house Wednesday to present the facts and figures regarding revenue sources and expenditures and invite the public to provide input and suggestions. The tone of the event remained civil and courteous. “I didn’t expect anything else,” Commission Chairman Jae Potter said. “People are mad- I am too, but we can have these discussions.”
Commissioners and department heads used charts and graphs in an informal setting to explain the circumstances that led to the proposed tax increases and how the rates compare with other counties in the state. Eight Utah counties have a higher tax rate.
Declining revenue from mineral monies were cited as the primary reason a tax increase is necessary. According to a chart distributed by county officials, Carbon County’s share of mineral monies has decreased from about $11 million in 2008 to approximately $3 million in 2017.
Revenue from centrally assessed taxpayers, such as railroads, utility companies and mining operations has also declined. Those properties are assessed by the state of Utah and are automatically appealed every year. The county then files cross-appeals, which Commissioner Potter says, “are making some headway.”
The proposed tax increase percentage amount is approximately 45 percent in the Assessing and Collecting Levy, which would generate $400,000. This levy applies to every property owner in the county.
The Municipal Services Levy affects those property owners who live outside of municipalities, and would increase 707.36 percent to produce $2,121,900.
In an interview with the Sun Advocate during the open house, Commissioner Potter conceded the proposed increase in one levy in particular is quite a jolt. He said, “There’s a big sticker shock here when the state requires you to increase your revenue $2.1 million in the municipal services fund– and that’s the 700 percent– it catches everyone’s attention, which is why we need truth in taxation, why we need the public hearing. And this is just outreach to be able to say, ‘hey, here’s some of the things we’re looking at.’”
The commission chairman took a stand against the proposed increases. “I personally can’t support the kind of increase that the clerk’s office is proposing,” he declared. “It’s a place-holder for now, but I personally can’t support it without better numbers and the changes we’re making in our budget for 2018. There’s just more work that has to be done on it.”
He said adjustments being considered include reductions in employee benefit packages and better efficiencies in departments, while working on economic diversification and working to make sure the energy producers are taken care of.
A similar open house was held Monday evening at the county Fairgrounds Event Center, and formal public comments regarding the proposed tax increase will be taken during a public hearing in the commission chambers of the Carbon County Administration Building on Tuesday, November 14, beginning at 6:00 p.m.
County sets public hearing on tax hike Tuesday
Tax Open House