Davis County leaders propose tax hike of up to 30% to generate up to $12.68M in new revenue

FARMINGTON — Davis County commissioners are proposing a property tax increase of as much as about 30% for 2026 to contend with inflation and growing demand for services — the first hike, if approved, since 2017.

“If we don’t get some new revenue, we’re not going to be able to provide the existing level of service that we’re already providing,” said Davis County Controller Scott Parke. It’s not that a proposed service will have to be scuttled without a tax hike, he said, “we’re going to have to cut back on the services we already offer.”

The proposed hike of up to 29.97% — also spurred by inflation — would boost property tax revenue entering Davis County coffers by $12.68 million, from the $42.29 million to be collected for 2025 to $54.97 million in 2026.

For the owner of an average-valued home in Davis County, $600,000, the full increase would boost their property tax bill by $100.48, from $335.28 to $435.76.

In publicly unveiling the plans and announcing a series of meetings on the issue last week, County Commissioner Bob Stevenson emphasized that the 29.97% figure represents the top limit of any increase. Commissioners, when they make their final decision, could opt for a smaller hike.

“Please realize that the 29.97% is a maximum. That does not mean that’s what it’s going to be,” he said.

Lorene Kamalu, chairwoman of the commission, said budget talks that led to the proposed tax hike have been ongoing all year. Per last week’s announcement, public open houses on the issue are set for Nov. 6 at the Layton Library, Nov. 12 at the Centerville Library and Nov. 18 at the Syracuse Library, each gathering starting at 6 p.m.

The formal truth-in-taxation hearing, when the public will be able to sound off on the plans before commissioners make a final decision, will be held Dec. 2 at 6 p.m. at the Davis County Administration Building in Farmington.

Parke said Davis County commissioners last went through the truth-in-taxation process to increase taxes in 2016, with the hike taking effect in 2017. Any increase approved this go-round wouldn’t appear on property owners’ bills until late next year.

Figuring big in the proposal have been inflationary price increases of some 32% since 2017, according to Parke. Moreover, pay for county employees has gone up in order to stay competitive in the job market and prevent turnover. Wages paid just to the county’s public safety employees in the Davis County Sheriff’s Office have gone from just under $30 million in 2020 to the current sum of just under $37 million — an increase of more than 20%.

Tax increases generally spur grumbling from some property owners and Parke suspects the Davis County proposal will have its detractors.

“To be candid, nobody likes a tax increase. I mean, I personally don’t like increases,” Parke said. “I do anticipate there will be people that aren’t happy with it.”

That said, he sees the need for it, but, like other county officials, also wants to hear from the public in next month’s open houses to get their input.

“If we don’t want to provide certain services and we’re willing to cut those, then we can cut that number down,” he said.

The county created a website with information on the proposal, daviscountyutah.gov/truth-in-taxation. The page notes money-saving measures county leaders have implemented in recent years, including the elimination of 15 posts, mostly from public safety. It also noted a Utah Taxpayers Association report that found that Davis County had the seventh-lowest taxes, per capita, of Utah’s 29 counties.

Cities, school districts and many other taxing entities operate on a fiscal year that goes from July 1 to June 30 and have already completed the budgeting process for 2025-26. County budgets align with the calendar year, and county leaders around the state are now in the process of crafting and finalizing spending plans for 2027.

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