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Manti council urges residents to attend June 30 town hall on county E‑911 (rural health) tax proposal
Summary
Councilors discussed a county proposal to place a rural health (E‑911) tax on the November ballot to pay for a state-mandated CAD dispatch system and two-person dispatch staffing, urged voter education and attendance at a June 30 town hall, and described rough cost estimates and how the tax would apply.
The Manti City Council spent a substantial portion of its June 17 meeting briefing residents on a county proposal to put a so‑called rural health tax on the November ballot to fund mandated upgrades and staffing for 9‑1‑1 dispatch.
The council’s chair told attendees the change stems from a state mandate to move to a new computer-aided dispatch (CAD) system and to require a minimum two-person dispatch watch. “This is, unfortunately, an unfunded mandate from the state to go to the new computer aided dispatch CAD system,” the chair said, noting county cost estimates discussed at recent meetings ranged from roughly $400,000 up to more than $1 million.
City Manager Jason Brown explained how the tax would work and where the money could be spent: the county is authorized to put an up-to-1% tax on non‑food items; officials estimate about 20% of the revenue would be collected from visitors to the county rather than full-time residents. Brown and other council members urged residents to attend an informational town hall in Manti on June 30 to hear details and ask questions.
Several council members and the city manager emphasized the practical choice facing small cities: either voters approve a countywide financing option or the funding burden would likely shift to incorporated cities and towns. One councilmember who attended a recent town hall in Gunnison recommended the Manti public “attend, ask questions” and learn the presentation the county is sharing.
Next steps: the county will host local town halls (including Manti on June 30) and, if the county commissioners place the question on the ballot, the measure would appear to voters in November. The council asked staff to help publicize the town hall and reminded residents that more detailed presentations (including a county PowerPoint and QR code summaries) are available at the town‑hall events.
