Utah County holds truth-in-taxation hearing as residents urge alternatives to a proposed property-tax hike

UTAH COUNTY — Utah County officials held a truth-in-taxation public hearing on Aug. 15 to explain a proposed property-tax increase and collect public feedback, with county administrator Ezra Nair saying the request addresses a projected general-fund deficit and rising costs for criminal-justice and mental-health services.

"This is a tax increase public hearing, and taxes are a big lift," Nair told the audience as he summarized budget pressures including a projected $12,000,000 general-fund deficit, cuts in federal grants for victim advocates and the children’s justice center, and costs tied to staffing a new court. He said 88% of the requested increase is dedicated to criminal-justice services and roughly 7% to mental-health programs, and estimated the average county homeowner would pay about $7.63–$8 more per month.

Residents filled the commission chamber and an overflow room to deliver three-minute comments. Many speakers called for budget cuts or alternative revenue approaches rather than a broad property-tax increase. Marilyn Hunt of American Fork, who said "the first year I moved here, my house went up a $125,000," urged commissioners to consider more robust senior relief. Olive Haupt, a Springville homeowner of 53 years, asked how seniors could seek a cap and whether petition avenues exist.

Small-business and commercial property owners warned of business impacts. Mark Weldon of WI Commercial Properties said his company paid about $1.6 million in property tax last year and that proposed changes would raise that to about $2.4 million, warning of vacancies and relocations if costs continue to climb.

Several commenters noted past commission and school-district actions. Greg Durden presented a petition asking elected officials to suspend pay raises awarded in 2023–24 until the county’s deficit is cleared. Other speakers urged transparency about how revenue increases are being used and questioned the optics of recent staff hires and salary increases while seeking new revenue.

Commissioners and staff emphasized this meeting was for feedback and that there would be no vote tonight. A county representative outlined next steps: an additional public open house on Sept. 26, a tentative budget hearing in October, and the statutory deadline to adopt a final budget by Dec. 31.

The hearing included multiple specific requests from residents: proposals for senior tax caps or broader exemptions, calls for a line-by-line review of personnel and capital projects, and suggestions to postpone large capital initiatives until revenues clearly justify them. Written statements were also entered into the record and read by staff in the overflow room.

The commission moved to open the public hearing at the start of the session and later moved to close it by voice vote; neither motion related to adopting the tax rate. The commission did not take a formal vote on tax rates at the Aug. 15 hearing.

The county has posted dedicated material and responses to question on its truth-in-taxation website and invited residents to the Sept. 26 open house at the Health and Justice Building. The county’s next formal steps are the tentative budget process in October and the final adoption of a 2025 budget by Dec. 31.