Historic Main Street buildings in Eureka, Utah. Eureka is among the small towns in the state that could see the largest tax increases. (Photo by HA Besen/Getty Images)
Among the more than 60 Utah cities, school districts and special districts that will discuss raising property taxes in public meetings this August, a small city of 1,600 residents is proposing the highest increase of the year.
Wellington City, located in central Carbon County, is contemplating a 225.31% property tax hike on the average home. That means that a $277,000 property, the average home value in the city, would see a $527.59 annual increase, according to the Utah Taxpayers Association, a tax watchdog.
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Other small municipalities, like Howell, a township of 237 residents; Eureka, of 661; Gunnison, of 3,600; and Uintah City, of 1,400 are studying tax increases ranging between 65.8% and 100%, the highest proposals in the state.
While this is an annual routine for entities proposing raising taxes, Wellington City hadn’t seen a property tax increase since 2017, according to minutes from a May City Council meeting.
“With the cost increase of everything — the city is needing to find a way to increase the money (it is) bringing in. The city receives sales tax, but even with that — it isn’t enough,” Barbara Clendennen, a financial consultant for the city said in the meeting, according to the minutes.
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At a June meeting, Clendennen said the proposed .005 property tax rate would help the budget, but it won’t be enough to cover the entire deficit.
It’s “a tough pill to swallow” for residents on fixed incomes, Wellington Mayor Jack Clark said during that meeting. But, ultimately, the council approved sending the proposal to the Utah State Tax Commission for certification.
None of the proposals are final yet. During the August truth-in-taxation meetings, elected officials may approve, modify or reject the increases, according to the taxpayers association.
“Truth-in-taxation meetings are a pivotal component of the taxation process in Utah,” Billy Hesterman, president of the Utah Taxpayers Association, said in a statement. “The feedback garnered during these meetings plays a crucial role in maintaining the fairness of taxes and ensuring that budgets undergo rigorous scrutiny before final approval. We hope that all taxpayers attempt to attend these meetings.”
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