Mosquito abatement district proposes small tax-rate increase; public hearing set Dec. 8

Council Member Ellen Burrell told the Cottonwood Heights City Council that she was recently sworn onto the South Salt Lake Valley Mosquito Abatement District board and that the district has proposed a tax-rate increase for 2026. Burrell said the district reported no rate change since 2012 and cited population growth, construction, inflation and operational needs as drivers of the proposal.

Using the district's stated average home value of $600,000, Burrell said the current rate is $2.64 and the proposed rate would be $3.41. "So the tax increase for an average household would be 77¢ annually," she said. The district listed three planned uses for the additional revenue: cost stabilization for essential services, operational enhancements and capital investment.

Burrell said the district will take public comment and scheduled a public hearing for Dec. 8 at 6 p.m. in the district office; handouts were available in the back of the council chambers for residents who wanted more information. The council did not take formal action on the proposal during the meeting; the matter was presented as a truth-in-taxation notice and next steps include the district's public hearing.

Council Member Matt Holton made a lighthearted remark offering to cover the 77¢ for residents, which was noted in the meeting record.