Anger, confusion and frustration were at the heart of the Utah County Commission meeting August 15: Hearing on truth in taxationOne resident after another spoke out against the proposed increase in property tax.

For example, the change would increase taxes on a home valued at $532,000 by $91.55 per year. Tax revenue on that home would increase from $190.78 to $282.33—a 48% increase.

District administration Ezra Nair said inflation was a major reason for the tax jump. Otherwise, property taxes from more residents would be a “sustainable path.” The county is projecting a $12 million deficit in 2024, he said, and that will increase to $18.7 million in 2025 and $25.1 million in 2026.

“We have finally reached a point where we have used up our reserves as much as possible.”

Other expenses Nair listed were the Children’s Justice Centerwhich is affected by federal cuts, the county’s rising crime rate which is putting a strain on courts and emergency services, state-mandated mental health services, and an increase in flooding.

The last property tax increase in Utah County was for the 2020 fiscal year. That year, the revenue increase was 61%. It was later cut by about 13% in 2021 due to an “unprecedented increase” in sales tax revenue.

“We recognize that it is a significant burden and we have done everything we can to minimize the taxpayer dollars required,” Nair said.

He pointed to $2.5 million in cuts to the Department of Health, including the elimination of more than 100 COVID-19-related jobs. Other costs have been reduced by moving some services online to save on postage, he said. In addition, the county has “reduced red tape to provide incentives for businesses” to come to Utah County to generate more sales tax revenue.

Many residents at the tax meeting were not convinced of this.

Referring to Nair’s statement that the county needs $400,000 to buy more mosquito control chemicals, Alex Honaker said he lives a mile from Utah Lake and “the mosquitoes aren’t that bad.”

He added that he does not understand “why the owners have to bear the costs for all the people who come.”

Olive Haupt, a Springville resident for 53 years, and several others expressed fear of being forced out of their homes by taxes as retirees.

“Everything is rising,” Haupt said. “Our salaries are not rising because we are no longer working.”

Others expressed concern about the level of salaries of some county officials. Greg Jordan of Orem submitted a petition to the commission asking that salary increases for all elected officials be suspended instead of increasing property taxes.

A provisional budget is to be proposed at a public hearing in October. The Commission will vote on it in December.