Tax increase notices coming to Salt Lake County property owners

SALT LAKE CITY  — If you own property in Salt Lake County, get ready for a possible tax increase. Notifications will be sent out by July 23, according to the Property Tax Division and the Office of The Salt Lake County Auditor. 

Five Salt Lake County tax hikes have already been approved. They include:

• Granger Hunter Improvement,
• Oquirrh Recreation & Parks,
• Salt Lake Valley Law Enforcement,
• Salt Lake City Mosquito Abatement, and
• Unified Fire

The Property Tax Division and the Office of The Salt Lake County Auditor released a table of proposed tax increases in Salt Lake County, which can be found here.

Salt Lake County tax increases, by city

Salt Lake City

A spokesperson from the Salt Lake City Mayor’s Office said inflation and the need to stay competitive are the two biggest reasons for the tax increases.

Approximately 92% of their budget goes to labor costs. The mayor’s office said another reason for a budget increase is to continue to offer competitive pay which attracts and keeps employees. 

For the average homeowner, the property tax on a home in Salt Lake City will increase by approximately $89.34 per year.

The increased funds will cover such services as roads, police, justice courts, and many other services that property owners expect.

The Salt Lake International Airport and the city’s libraries are separate and independent from the taxes collected by Salt Lake City. 

Traverse Ridge Special Service area

The Chairman of the Traverse Ridge Special Service Board, Daryl Acumen, told KSL NewsRadio that their tax increase will fix a fiscal imbalance that has been ongoing for the past seven years.

Acumen said residents in the upper area of Draper known as Suncrest, and other surrounding communities, have unique needs involving snow removal as well as keeping roads maintained. This is due to the area’s high elevation.

The average homeowner in the Traverse Ridge Special Service area can expect their taxes to increase by approximately $144.66.

Bluffdale, West Valley City, Murray

The City of Bluffdale passed a tentative budget on June 2, 2022, for the 2022-2023 fiscal year. They, as well as other cities, cite the cost of inflation as a factor leading to increased taxes. In their July Newsletter, Bluffdale officials said three of their major expenses are fuel prices,  public safety, and personnel costs.

Citing their need to remain competitive, the West Valley City Finance Director said their increase will go toward keeping a viable and effective police force.

A spokesperson for the Murray City Finance department said their average tax increase would be $56.38 for the average homeowner. This is the city’s first tax increase since 2018.

They stated Murray residents asked to have smaller and more frequent increases versus larger increases over greater periods of time. This increase comes now to try and accommodate the citizen’s request for smaller increases. 

South Jordan

Rachael Van Cleave, the South Jordan Public Information Officer said, “inflation costs, personnel costs, and construction costs…” are where the majority of their increase will be spent. Construction costs, for example, are 30% higher.

Public safety is also a big expense for South Jordan along with many other cities. They are working to remain competitive as they are hiring three new officers. The city also plans to hire eleven new firefighters for a new fire station on the west side of town. 

For property owners interested in hearing about the proposed increases in their area there will be meetings held for the public to attend. 

If you feel your property may have been improperly assessed the Salt Lake County Auditor has a form to file an appeal. 

Related reading:

• South Salt Lake resident wants to stop mayor and City Council from awarding themselves raises
• Truth-in-Taxation law holds taxes in check while property values rise in Utah
• Orem planning property tax hike for police

 

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