FARMINGTON—Close to 300 residents packed the Davis County Commission chambers and spilled into several overflow rooms to attend a Truth in Taxation meeting Dec. 2 to voice their opinions about a significant proposed property tax increase. Although they were given instructions not to clap or cheer, many attendees ignored the rules and some even got a little rowdy. One man in an overflow room shouted, “What are you going to do, arrest us all?” 

Most speakers were respectful but angry when they got to the podium. During a Truth in Taxation meeting the commissioners can only listen but can’t respond. Leading up to the meeting, the commissioners held several public open houses where residents could ask questions and hear from county officials about the proposed increase.

“My taxes go up every year by a substantial amount,” said one resident. “This year it was $8,412 for my home and three quarter acres of ground. I’ve worked hard all my life. I’ve saved all of my life so I could build a nice home and buy some ground.”

He said that he was able to do that in 2009. “I bought the property in 2010 and built a house in 2011. My first taxes on my house in 2011 were $3,200 and now my taxes are $8,400. In their (county) proposed letter that came with my taxes it said my taxes would go up $964. Another $94 on the mosquito abatement. That throws me clear past $9,500 for my taxes. It’s ridiculous.”

Whether the increase is 30%, 14.9% or even 6% the proposed tax hike is excessive, said another man. “I’m already at the breaking point. I was struggling with inflation and now you’re asking for a little bit more.”

This feels less like a tax adjustment and more like a foreclosure notice, he said. “I’ve talked to some seniors here and they’re on fixed incomes. Understand, this isn’t just one of the taxes that they have to face.”

“Property tax is not easy for any of us but that is the revenue source for funding local government services,” said Commission Chair Lorene Kamalu. “It’s hard for people to really understand property tax. It’s also hard for people to understand the different levels of government and the responsibilities required for each level of government.”

It’s also hard for them to understand the school district is not the county government, she said. “Mosquito abatement is not county government. Another misconception is that their entire property tax bill goes to Davis County which is not accurate either.”

The cost of running the core government has gone up, just like everything else has gone up – 32% since 2016, said Kamalu. 

Although the meeting was scheduled from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. it went well over 9 p.m. At the conclusion after some heated discussion the commissioners took a vote for a 14.9% property tax increase. It passed 2-1 with Commissioner John Crofts casting the dissenting vote. 

“I’ve had so much pressure to raise taxes,” said Crofts. “What I’ve taken from the last month and a half is that people are really hurting.”

One common thread is inflation has hurt people but salaries didn’t catch up, he said. “I think we’re in a recession. We were trying to replace a secretary and had 80 applicants. I don’t think things are as rosy as we think they are.”

Several residents mentioned the cost of the new Western Sports Park. “That comes out of a different pot of money, not the general fund,” said Crofts. “I’m hopeful it will be a benefit to the county.”

In the end, Croft defended his dissenting vote. “My vote was about people, not politics,” he said. “I will continue to fight for fiscal responsibility, accountability, and the residents who placed their trust in me.” 

“We were elected to do a job,” said Commissioner Stevenson. “Part of that job is making decisions. Part of those decisions is making sure that we are supplying the services that are required and the services for you as a people.”

“The tentative budget that was published by the beginning of November is based on keeping the service levels as they are and fulfilling the law required of Davis County,” said Kamalu. “Commissioner Stevenson also noted there have been many positions cut within various departments and then we have also experienced unfunded mandates in more state law and had to hire people to comply with state law. We can only absorb so much and we have absorbed a lot over nine years.”