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Emery County adopts 2025 tax rates amid discussion of CRA and inland-port revenue
Summary
The commission adopted certified 2025 tax rates for county operations, library, recreation and assessment/collection; commissioners debated using CRA or inland-port receipts to lower rates but were cautioned such reductions are permanent and could affect operations.
County finance staff presented the certified assessment roll and proposed tax rates for the 2025 taxing year and recommended adoption at the meeting on June 17.
The proposed rates presented included a general operations rate of 0.003698 (budget revenue $7,741,677), a library rate of 0.00429 (budget revenue $898,102), a recreation/pool rate of 0.00068 ($142,356) and a county assessing/collecting rate of 0.00463 ($1,022,609). Staff noted there was little to no new growth and that collections were roughly $10,000 below last year’s totals.
Commissioners discussed options to reduce rates using CRA (community reinvestment area) and inland-port-related revenue. One commissioner cautioned that "once you lower this rate, you can't increase it ever," warning that adopting a lower certified rate is effectively permanent and could harm county operations if other revenue assumptions change.
After discussion and a suggestion to revisit potential one-time uses of solar or inland-port funds in a follow-up meeting, a motion to adopt the proposed 2025 tax rates passed with two commissioners voting Aye and one commissioner (Jensen) recording a Nay.
County staff said final effects on individual taxpayers will be known once all taxing entities submit their certified rates later in the month. Commissioners directed staff to schedule follow-up conversations about using new revenues to address taxpayer impacts before the next budget cycle.
