A proposal was introduced during the October 18 regular meeting of the Carbon County Commission for an increase in two property tax levies. Declining mineral lease revenue was once again cited for the need to raise taxes in order to continue to provide existing services.
The proposal was read into the minutes by Commission Chairman Jae Potter. Commissioner Casey Hopes was in attendance but Commissioner Jake Mellor was absent.
The proposed tax increase follows a nine percent hike in the General Fund and the Municipal Services Fund last year. The percentage amount on the proposed increase for 2018 is approximately 45 percent in the Assessing and Collecting Levy, which would generate an additional $400,000. The Municipal Services Levy, which would increase a whopping 707.36 percent and would raise $2,121,900. Information on the proposed increases will be contained in tax notices property owners should be receiving this week.
Using a slide show presentation with charts and graphs, County Clerk/Auditor Seth Oveson explained the purpose of the levies and the need for the increase.
“What the County Assessing and Collecting Levy is for, is to cover the cost of assessing and collecting taxes, not just for the county but for all taxing entities within the county,” he said.
Oveson argued the cost of assessing and collecting amounts to about $1.2 million, while the county currently receives only about $800,000 from the levy. He noted, “That levy covers every single parcel in the county so it will be a county-wide increase.”
Roads are a big part
The Municipal Services Fund covers the needs that would normally be covered by a city. It would apply to those living outside of municipalities in the county. The levy provides funding for services such as roads and ambulance. Oveson said, “One of the biggest items in the Municipal Services Fund is the road shop. It has a $3 million budget, approximately, to be able to maintain roads every year.” The levy currently generates $300,000 annually. He said in the past the county has been able leave the rates lower and subsidize the cost with mineral monies, but that is no longer the case.
The proposed increase in the levy would bring the fund to more than $2.1 million. Oveson said the increase brings the levy much closer in line with the cities. It would be just over Price City’s levy, but would still be under the levies in Helper, Wellington and East Carbon.
Oveson stressed, “It’s not to provide new buildings or new employees. The funding’s gone down over the years. The county has kept those services up, eating into fund surplus a little bit, but it can only happen for so long and that’s why we’re looking at this option.”
‘This weighs heavy’
Commissioner Jae Potter announced an open house on the proposed increases will be held on November 8 and again November 13, and a public hearing will be held during the county commission meeting of Tuesday, November 14.
Commissioner Potter remarked, “This weighs heavy. We are open to suggestions.”
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