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Senate backs SB 161 to shift shares of statewide assessing-and-collecting levy
Summary
Senate advanced SB 161 to lower the statewide multi-county assessing-and-collecting levy maximum from 0.0003 to 0.0002 and allow counties to levy 0.0003 locally to qualify for pooled funds; sponsors framed it as shifting responsibility to counties benefiting from pooled revenue (24-0-5 recorded).
Senate Bill 161, presented by Senator Stevenson, would alter the structure of Utah's assessing-and-collecting property tax levy: it lowers the statewide maximum rate from 0.0003 to 0.0002 while permitting counties that opt into the pooled program to levy 0.0003 locally to qualify for shared funds.
Stevenson said the change aims to shift a larger share of the burden to counties that receive benefit from the pooled revenue rather than universalizing the rate. "This would reduce the maximum rate allowed for the multi-county assessing and collecting levy from the current level of 0.0003 to a new levy of 0.0002," he said, adding that qualifying counties would need to levy the higher rate locally.
Senators engaged in technical discussion but agreed the change better aligns costs with local responsibility. The Senate agreed to uncircle and move the bill; a roll call recorded 24 yes, 0 nay, with 5 absent and the bill was ordered for third reading.
Proponents said the bill increases local control and accountability; the floor noted the measure is technical but intended to improve equity for counties with differing property tax bases.
