Alpine School District Board of Education votes to raise taxes in Utah County

AMERICAN FORK — Taxes are going up in Utah County after the Alpine School District Board of Education voted for an almost seven percent tax increase at a public hearing Tuesday night. 

The plan is to instate a tax increment that will increase across four phases. 

According to an Alpine School District press release, those four increments will equal about $107 per year for the average home in the district. 

The money gained from this increase will go towards a building fund and school improvements. It will also go towards class size reduction efforts and special education resources. 

Related: Alpine School District proposing tax increase to fund new schools

Alpine School District Director of Communications Rich Stowell says they wanted to vote this through right away despite the potential district split in a couple of months.

“Maintaining buildings that need improvements right now is much more cost effective than waiting another year or two years when repairs are going to cost more,” Stowell said.

Stowell says the school board determined that the increased growth in the area demands these funds for more teachers and a new high school in the western part of the district.

“A building fund and reducing class sizes is imperative right now and is irrespective of any other issue facing the district,” he said. “Delaying some of these decisions would actually cost taxpayers more money down the road.” 

Stowell says if the district does split, which will be voted on in November, this tax increase will still remain.