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Council hears public input and signals support for Mosquito Abatement District tax increase
Summary
Council held a public hearing on a proposed Mosquito Abatement District property tax increase (from 0.000093 to 0.000117). Resident Ron Mortensen spoke in favor but suggested reducing the tax after construction of a pesticide storage facility; Councilman Murray described recent West Nile detections in the county; councilmembers signaled support.
Bountiful City Council opened a public hearing on the Mosquito Abatement District’s proposed property tax increase and accepted public comment before recording the council’s sentiment for the district.
City attorney Brad Jepsen explained the district intends to increase the tax rate from 0.000093 to 0.000117 per dollar of assessed value; Jepsen said that increase translates to about $8 on a $600,000 home. Resident Ron Mortensen spoke in favor of the increase, citing the public-health risks mosquitoes pose worldwide and locally (West Nile virus is present in the region). Mortensen suggested the district consider reducing taxes after construction of a pesticide storage facility, because the storage construction is a one-time capital expense.
Councilman Murray, the city’s legislative representative to the Mosquito Abatement Board, said Davis County recorded two West Nile-related deaths the previous year and described the district’s expanded use of drones and aircraft to treat hard-to-reach areas. Councilmembers on the dais expressed support for the proposed tax increase and thanked Mortensen for his input.
By statute the council recorded its sentiment and asked the district to consider public comment before finalizing its taxing decision; no formal city vote was required on the tax at this meeting.
