Weber County wants $3.9 million tax raise due to staff shortages, inflation
Oct 25, 2023, 11:00 AM | Updated: 12:28 pm
Weber County officials have proposed tax raises to help with staffing shortages. (Canva)
(Canva)
WEBER COUNTY — Weber County has been experiencing severe staff shortages, but leaders say a $3.9 million tax raise could help.
Right now, the average value of a home in Weber County is $486,000. For a person living in an average home, the proposed tax increase would translate to $35.19 extra per year, according to the Standard-Examiner.
Weber County Commissioner Gage Froerer says the tax raise is especially needed since the last one happened in 2016. “Because of the competition from the state and other counties, with personnel being offered higher wages, and we were losing a number of people.”
The Weber County Sheriff’s Office is one of the most understaffed departments. Nearly a quarter of front-line deputy spots are still open.
“It’s important for the people to understand that if we’re going to continue to offer those core services–roads, transfer stations, assets we have up here, like our Golden Spike Arena, that we need to pay people to maintain it. We need to pay to make sure those assets are kept in quality condition,” says Froerer.
Another factor behind the 7.25% tax increase is inflation, which drove up the cost of city equipment and materials like asphalt and gas.
Froerer says it could have been a lot worse.
“We had $2.5 million we were able to scrub from the other budgets… If we hadn’t done that, the increase would have been above the 10 or 11% range.”
Weber County is not the only one proposing tax raises
The County Commission, however, is not the only group raising taxes. The Standard Examiner reported that eight other entities hiked their own taxes. The stack of new taxes hits South Ogden residents with an average of $74 a year, which comes from their city, water conservancy district, and fire district.
This tax raise is currently just a proposal. Residents can hear more and speak about the proposed change at a public truth-in-taxation hearing next month. That will be held on November 28 at 6 p.m. at the Weber Center at 2380 Washington Blvd. The Weber County Commission could make it official in December.
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