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Dozens of residents oppose proposed tax hikes, urge spending cuts and staggered increases
Summary
At a Box Elder County hearing dozens of residents—seniors, fixed-income households, and community groups—urged the commission to avoid a single large increase and instead cut spending or phase increases over years; several threatened political consequences if the hike passes.
A steady stream of residents told the commission a 21–22% increase to the county portion of property taxes would be too large at once and urged alternative approaches.
Comments spanned themes: several speakers recommended smaller annual increases instead of a one-time spike (Brian Baron suggested multi-year steps), many emphasized the burden on seniors and fixed-income households (Julie Shinkle described her 96-year-old father’s anxiety over a $1,600 tax bill), and multiple speakers urged a line-by-line review of the budget to find savings rather than raising taxes. Others questioned specific items such as the bookmobile’s utilization and costs, with one commenter calling the bookmobile "a waste," and many pressed for more transparency on capital projections.
Speakers also raised political pressure: one resident said he intends to run against the commissioners if they approve the hike. The commission listened and took comments under advisement; no vote on the tax proposals occurred at the hearing.
