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Commission asks staff to explore deferral after nonprofit misses three years of commercial tax payments
Summary
Training and Life Choices told Davis County commissioners it missed three years of commercial property tax payments because a title company used an old mailing address; commissioners directed treasurer and legal to examine deferral or adjustment options but did not abate taxes on the spot.
Training and Life Choices, a Davis County disability-services provider, asked county officials for relief after a lender told the organization its commercial property taxes for 2022–24 had not been paid.
At the Sept. 2 work session, Kelly, a representative of Training and Life Choices, said a title company used an outdated mailing address so the owner never received tax notices and only learned of the lapse when the lender alerted them. "I've never owned a commercial property before," Kelly said, adding that "a lump sum of 18 plus thousand dollars would be an extreme burden on us." Kelly said the nonprofit has relied on state contracts and recent payroll required using personal savings.
County staff cited the governing statute the commission is using to consider adjustments — quoted in the meeting as "Utah code annotated 59 dash 2 dash 13 47" — and said the law allows either an adjustment or a deferral. Treasurer/legal staff told the commission there are no regular payment plans for real property taxes and that interest accrues at 10% per year, but that a deferral under the statute could lower the interest rate. The meeting record shows staff described the deferral option as uncommon locally and noted administrative costs, including the requirement that a recorded lien would be placed on the property and the lender would likely need to sign paperwork.
Commissioner Bob Seavis and other members emphasized property owners' responsibility to ensure the county has a correct mailing address and urged that accountants or business bookkeepers typically check tax payments. Commissioners stopped short of abating taxes, instead directing the treasurer and county legal staff to review potential deferral or adjustment mechanisms and to report back. Staff also advised the owner to begin making payments toward the most recent tax year to reduce the risk of an auction.
What happens next: Treasurer and county legal staff will research deferral/adjustment mechanics, including the lien-recording process and lender involvement, and report options to the commission. No formal abatement was granted at the work session.
