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Residents urge Board to reconsider 37% tax increase; board members say deadlines limit reversal
Summary
Multiple residents delivered public comment opposing a 37% tax increase the board approved, presenting petitions and urging the board to engage businesses and residents; administrators said the deadline to set tax rates has passed and reversing collection would be difficult.
Three residents used the public-comment portion of the meeting to press the board on recent district decisions and the recently approved tax increase.
DJ Bhatt of Brigham City opened public comment with historical observations and a plea for civility in social media after recent local events. Lisa Marble, identifying herself as a Corinne business community member, asked the board to "reevaluate your excessive tax burden" on residents and local businesses, said businesses take pride in partnering with schools and reported nearly 4,000 petition signatures asking the board to listen.
Ben Soholt told the board he had gathered signatures and heard consistent opposition to what he described as the board-approved 37% tax increase. "People are deeply opposed to the 37% tax increase this board approved," Soholt said, and he urged greater transparency and responsiveness after voters rejected an earlier 22% proposal.
Board members discussed options but several said the district's tax-rate process and deadlines limit the ability to change a rate already signed and submitted. One administrator told the board, "I'm not aware of a mechanism where we could reverse that or change the rate to be collected," noting the deadline to set tax rates had passed. Board members suggested one path would be to place reconsideration on a future agenda if there is a lawful mechanism, but others said reversing an already-resolved rate may not be possible for the current tax year.
The board did not take immediate action to rescind or change the tax rate during the meeting; officials said staff would advise on any available procedural options and that individuals could bring concerns to future meetings.
