Auditor: New state law will bar new applicants for circuit-breaker property tax abatement after this year

Iron County Auditor Lucas Little told the Iron County Commission at its March meeting that a recently enacted state law (referred to in the meeting as SB197) will prevent anyone who is not already enrolled from applying for the state27s circuit-breaker property tax abatement after this year.

Little said the program previously allowed qualifying residents age 65 and older who met the income threshold to receive an abatement that could cover some or all property taxes, and the county was reimbursed by the state for the abated amount. He told the commission that while those already on the program in 2024 and those who enroll in 2025 will be allowed to continue, the law prohibits new enrollments after 2025.

The change matters because Little said roughly "3 to 400" county residents participate now and that the program has been expanding by roughly 20 to 30 new participants a year. He advised residents who may qualify to contact the auditor27s office this year to enroll before the restriction takes effect.

Little also said the final version of the legislation, finalized late in the session, limits recipients to either the county abatement or the circuit breaker benefit rather than allowing both. "It will only let them have one or the other where before they could have both," Little said, adding that the new rules could reduce the portion of taxes covered for some recipients.

A commissioner asked whether the bill sponsor was Senator McKay; Little said McKay had presented the bill, and noted that Senator Vickers was the only representative the auditor27s office identified as voting against the measure.

Little said the county will notify affected residents so they can plan for likely increases in their tax bills next year. He also reminded the commission that, on the program27s prior rules, eligible households in 2024 had an income limit that was "just above $40,000."