Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Municipal Tax topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council raises municipal energy tax to 6% to seed cemetery fund and match grants
Summary
Marriott‑Slaterville approved an ordinance raising the municipal energy sales and use tax from 3% to 6% to create a dedicated cemetery fund and support grant matching for road and park projects; staff said the state tax commission had already been collecting 6% and the city expects a rebate for the period it was charged at that higher rate.
Marriott‑Slaterville’s council voted to increase the municipal energy sales and use tax to 6%, directing the additional revenue into a cemetery fund and continued grant‑matching for capital projects.
Staff framed the proposal as a way to avoid forming a special service district for cemetery operations and to instead manage cemetery planning and operations through the city. During the hearing, resident Steven Meekum, who identified himself as a longtime advocate for a city cemetery, told the council: "We need a cemetery and sorry it costs money." Another resident, Julie Stokes, asked how residents could verify whether collections and refunds from the state had been handled correctly.
Staff explained that the Utah State Tax Commission had been charging 6% while the city ordinance had been set at 3%, producing nine months of higher receipts. The city currently holds funds that reflect that 6% collection and staff said the tax commission had told the city it planned to issue rebates for the overcharged months; council members were told the city’s budget was modeled on the 6% figure in anticipation of the rebate adjustment.
Staff provided a monthly revenue range (seasonal shifts between power and gas) and estimated roughly $10,000–$15,000 per month in energy‑tax receipts depending on season, projecting around $100,000 annually with about $50,000 directed toward cemetery planning/operations and about $50,000 toward grant matches and public works. Council formed a cemetery committee to research implementation and report back.
The council approved Ordinance 20‑26‑07 by roll call vote to set municipal energy levies and allocate the additional revenue as described. Staff said the cemetery funds will sit in a holding account until the cemetery committee returns recommendations for council approval.
