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Unified Fire Service Area seeks roughly $11.4 million in property-tax revenue to fund staffing, stations and capital
Summary
Unified Fire Service Area officials told Copperton councilors their proposed property-tax increase would generate about $11.4 million — including $5 million carryover and $6.3 million to staff two stations — raising the average UFSA resident's annual tax by about $93; a public hearing is scheduled Dec. 10.
Unified Fire Service Area officials presented a proposal during the Nov. 20 Copperton council meeting to increase UFSA property-tax revenue by about $11.4 million, combining $5 million in carryover from 2024 and roughly $6.3 million to staff two new fire stations.
Tony Hellman, UFSA chief financial officer, said the combined increase would amount to about $93 per year for an average UFSA residential property value used in the presentation ($525,000): "The tax increase on an average resident of UFSA ... is $93 for the year," he said. Officials said the increase would be split between the carryover portion and new staffing costs and would keep the service area close to, but under, its statutory maximum levy.
The Uniform Fire Authority chief outlined key drivers: rising equipment and construction costs, a continuing capital replacement plan, and wage pressure. He said costs have risen materially since 2018 — turnout gear up about 86%, ladder trucks up about 69% and other vehicle and medical-supply costs increased — and noted a 22% increase in entry-level wages over six years compared with a 26.6% rise in CPI.
The presentation described several elements the tax increase would cover: backfilling minimum fund-balance levels adopted in prior years, maintaining a 10-to-15-year capital replacement schedule, seismic upgrades to older stations, and staffing Station 253 (built but not yet staffed). Councilors asked for specifics on station construction costs; presenters said Station 253 cost roughly $11 million to build and that the immediate request focuses on day-to-day staffing costs rather than the one-time construction outlay.
Council members also pressed presenters on response times in growth areas such as Eagle Mountain, where officials said 10-minute average response times are common and that staffing the new station would help bring response times closer to urban targets of 6 to 8 minutes.
UFSA representatives emphasized that property tax is the service area's main revenue source — there is no sales tax or franchise-fee revenue for UFSA — and encouraged residents to attend the UFSA public hearing scheduled for Dec. 10 at 6 p.m. at the UFA offices to comment on the proposed rate and to hear the board's final recommendation.
