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House updates tax-notice language to better reflect real impact of proposed property-tax increases
Summary
HB181 was amended and passed unanimously to change required language in notices of proposed tax increases so the public sees the percentage revenue change and avoids misleading impressions in newspaper notices; the measure passed 75–0.
House Bill 181, aimed at clarifying notices of proposed property tax increases, passed the Utah House unanimously after an amendment to provide clearer percentage and revenue-change language.
Representative Ayla Mount Tyler introduced the bill with examples of misleading newspaper notices from the Alpine and Davis County school districts, showing large percentage figures that, Tyler said, overstate the real tax impact. Using the Alpine example, he showed that an advertisement figure of 26% actually described a different comparison, while the true tax increase for a homeowner in the example was about 4.9%.
Representative Swallow offered an amendment to insert explicit percentage revenue-change language into the notice so the public sees the total revenue increase (with growth, debt service and other factors explained). Proponents and members of the committee argued the change improves transparency and reduces undue alarm. After floor debate and adoption of the amendment, HB181 passed the House 75–0 and will go to the Senate.
Representative Tyler said the change seeks to reduce public confusion by presenting the impact of a tax increase in consistent terms.
