KSL+

Utah County approves ‘absolutely necessary’ tax increase for 2025 budget

Dec 19, 2024, 2:05 PM | Updated: Dec 21, 2024, 4:48 pm

The Utah County Commission on Wednesday approved its budget for 2025, which includes a significant ...

The Utah County Commission on Wednesday approved its budget for 2025, which includes a significant property tax increase that the commissioners said was "absolutely necessary." (Cassidy Wixom, KSL.com)

(Cassidy Wixom, KSL.com)

PROVO — The Utah County Commission approved its budget for 2025 Wednesday, which includes a significant property tax increase that the commissioners said was “absolutely necessary.”

The county approved an increase of 47.99% for its portion of the property tax, plus a 10% increase on the assessing and collecting portion of the tax.

This means the county property tax for an average home worth $532,000 would increase from $190.78 to $282.33, or about $91.55 a year. For the county assessing and collecting portion, the tax would increase from an average of $31.89 to $35.35, or about $3.46 per year.

This would equate to about $8 a month from each household to “address noted services and deficits,” county administrator Ezra Nair said in August at a truth-in-taxation hearing. He acknowledged that the increase will have a significant impact on residents.

The tax increase was met with staunch criticism at that August meeting from residents already hurting from inflation and the increased cost of living.

Nair said the county has taken steps to reduce its property tax burden. It cut more than $2 million from the county health department, letting go of more than 100 employees and seeking revenue from other sources — such as incentivizing businesses to come to the county in order to increase sales tax revenue and getting federal aid for certain projects.

The increase would generate revenue of about $25 million for the county general fund and $1 million for the assessing and collecting fund for the 2025 tax year.

According to the tax increase resolution, the funds will be used for law enforcement, public safety needs, roads, infrastructure, “necessary capital improvements and public services to address the needs of growth throughout the county.”

The county last increased its share of the property tax in 2019 and then partially reduced it in 2021. The property tax increase would amount to a 16% increase of the county’s total general fund budget, which consists of property tax, sales tax, fees, and interest.

Since the original tentative budget was proposed, changes have been made to make it more balanced so that county leaders don’t need to take any money from the county’s “rainy day fund,” budget manager Gina Tanner said in Wednesday’s commission meeting.

Commissioner Skyler Beltran chose to abstain from voting on the budget, saying he didn’t have enough time to fully understand the budget since he only became a commissioner in September. Beltran replaced Tom Sakievich when he resigned over health issues. He will also continue as commissioner in January since he won the general election in November.

With public safety concerns needing to be addressed in the county attorney’s and sheriff’s offices, and losing federal funding the county has had for 20 years for the Children’s Justice Center, the tax increase was “necessary,” he said.

“I may not personally agree with the full amount as we hammered out, but I would like to make sure I go on the record that a tax increase was absolutely necessary this year,” Beltran said.

Beltran said he is optimistic about improving the budget process in the future, and there are staffing plan changes he has in mind and “baseline adjustments” he would like to see implemented next year.

Commissioner Amelia Powers Gardner commended Beltran for his approach to the budget and how hard he worked on it even with such little time.

“We, as a county, have been working tirelessly. I agree; I would not vote for this budget if it wasn’t absolutely necessary,” she said.

Powers Gardner said Utah County is a great place to live, work, and raise a family. However, to keep it that way, she says the criminal justice program needs to be funded for prosecution and public defenders.

“Public safety is paramount to our community; prosecuting crime is necessary. The service that we do — over 80% of this tax increase goes directly to public safety, and that’s an area we can’t compromise,” she said.

The tax increase is also due to inflation, Powers Gardner said, which “hits every one of our pocketbooks.”

“I know that there isn’t a single department here who got everything they asked for, and I am sorry. But we did the best we could,” she said.

“There was a Herculean effort across the board by every department. Everybody had to give more than they wanted to, but we were able to balance the budget and come up with a fiscally balanced budget,” she added.

KSL 5 TV Live

KSL+

The DC-7C airliner took off from McChord Air Force Base on June 3, 1963, with 101 passengers and cr...

Feliks Banel, KSL Podcasts

Unsolved Histories episode 1: ‘Brothers’

When Greg Barrowman waved goodbye to his teenage brother Bruce at an airfield, he had no idea that the events that would transpire on that day would affect his family for the next six decades.

4 months ago

A 41-year-old woman living in Taylorsville was sentenced to a year of home detention and five years...

Collin Leonard, KSL.com

Pilates instructor ordered to repay 15 years of disability benefits

A pilates instructor living in Taylorsville was sentenced to a year of home detention Monday after Social Security agents found her exercise videos on social media while claiming disability benefits.

4 months ago

An Orem man is facing a criminal charge after police say he ran over a man who had fallen in a road...

Pat Reavy, KSL.com

Orem driver charged with running over man in Provo

An Orem man is now facing a criminal charge accusing him of running over a man who had fallen in the street and not stopping to help.

4 months ago

An officer helps free a car stuck on Main Street in Farmington, Dec. 14, 2015. When it comes to get...

Ivy Farguheson, KSL.com

Teen drivers should be educated on emergency preparedness

When it comes to getting teen drivers prepared for the emergencies that can arise on Utah's streets and highways, the message is the same: You have to talk literally about it.

4 months ago

Fourth District Judge Anthony Howell ruled Thursday to dismiss a defamation lawsuit lawsuit filed b...

Emily Ashcraft, KSL.com

Judge dismisses lawsuit against Millard County newspaper

A 4th District judge dismissed a defamation lawsuit filed against a Millard County newspaper in a ruling on Thursday.

4 months ago

Detective Jim Guzman, from Salt Lake County Sheriff's Office, holds a deck of cards filled with the...

Collin Leonard, KSL.com

Utah families look to new technology to solve cold cases

Despite being named the Hope Conference, many attendees have a complicated relationship with the word hope.

4 months ago

Sponsored Articles

luxury living room with a classic white sofa and sofa, interior design...

Lighting Design

Revisiting home lighting trends for 2025

Looking for inspiration to revamp your home lighting? This article outlines some of the emerging lighting trends for 2025.

holiday gift basket with blue tissue paper and gingerbread cookies...

Kneaders Bakery & Cafe

Holiday hacks for a stress-free season

Get more out of your time with family and loved ones over the holidays by following these tips for a stress-free season.

2 computer techs in a computer shop holding up a computer server with the "hang loose" sign...

PC Laptops

A comprehensive guide to choosing the right computer

With these tips, choosing the right computer that fits your needs and your budget will be easier than ever.

crowds of people in a German style Christmas market...

This Is The Place Heritage Park

Celebrate Christkindlmarket at This Is The Place Heritage Park!

The Christkindlmarket is an annual holiday celebration influenced by German traditions and generous giving.

Image of pretty woman walking in snowy mountains. Portrait of female wearing warm winter earmuff, r...

Lighting Design

Brighten your mood this winter with these lighting tricks

Read our lighting tips on how to brighten your mood in the winter if you are experiencing seasonal affective disorder.

A kitchen with a washer and dryer and a refrigerator...

Appliance Man

Appliance Man: a trusted name in Utah’s home appliance industry

Despite many recent closures of local appliance stores, Appliance Man remains Utah's trusted home appliance business and is here to stay.

Utah County approves ‘absolutely necessary’ tax increase for 2025 budget