Despite several community members showing strong opposition, the Salt Lake County Council approved a nearly 14% increase in property taxes earlier this week.
The increase is intended to levy about $36.5 million of additional tax revenue that would be generated each year.
“It’s unsustainable for homeowners, terrible for renters and almost impossible for people on fixed incomes,” one commenter said while addressing the council during a public hearing Dec. 9.
The county says the increase will help cover inflation and rising costs for essential services such as tax administration, data security and general operations. It will also fund public safety needs, including the jail and district attorney’s office, and support programs offering alternatives to incarceration. Additional revenue will go toward new state-mandated programs and debt service for the government center campus and convention center renovation.
‘An undue burden on homeowners’
One Salt Lake City resident said that while he understands the need to fund programs, he feels “that raising property taxes at this time would place an undue burden on homeowners who are already facing rising cost of living, insurance and utilities.”
Median home prices in Salt Lake City hit $539,500 in November, according to Homes.com data.
There was an original proposal for a 19% increase, which would have produced about $49 million of additional revenue. That was lowered after county leaders approved budget cuts to programs for senior citizens, women and childcare.
Another commenter said that cutting these programs won’t affect his taxes, but it will make a “difference in the lives of many people” who have spoken to county leaders in the past several weeks.
Clearing up confusion
Following the public hearing, Council Member Laurie Stringham said the county hasn’t raised property taxes since 2019.
“Your property taxes go up when other entities raise their taxes,“ she said. “If you have a school district raise their taxes, the property tax will go up in that line item on your tax credit. There are multiple entities on your line item.”
Various council members recognized the frustration of the public, but in the end approved the increase in an 8-1 vote.