Proposed bill would change how schools get property tax money

SALT LAKE CITY— A bill that seeks to change how schools get property tax dollars has cleared yet another legislative hurdle.

Currently in Utah, much of the property tax dollars people pay go straight to their local school districts.

Under SB37, sponsored by Sen. Lincoln Fillmore, R-South Jordan, schools would still receive property tax dollars, but not before they go into a state-owned account. After that, lawmakers would then disperse money to schools.

However, Fillmore told a Utah House committee Thursday the bill would also allow them to use money in that account for other purposes. These include social services, transportation and public safety.

“(The bill) does not touch any property tax levy that is initiated by a local school district,” he said. “It does not change the timing, the amount or the permitted uses of any education dollars that school districts will receive.”

Fillmore described the bill as a budgeting tool for that state, which it can use to simply dispense property tax dollars to schools.

Despite pushback from several public commenters in Thursday’s hearing, the committee passed the bill.

It now only needs approval from the full Utah House to reach the governor’s desk.

Adam Small is a reporter for KSL NewsRadio. He primarily reports on the Great Salt Lake and Natural Resources. Follow him on Facebook and X.

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