Orem CFO says city seeks $450,000 property tax increase to fund two officers

Brandon Nelson, the City of Orem's chief financial officer, outlined a proposed property tax increase that would be dedicated to a new Orem Public Safety Levy.

Nelson said the levy would include "the property tax increase that we are requesting of $450,000 for public safety and two officers, as well as their associated equipment." He emphasized that the city's portion represents roughly 10% of a typical property tax bill, noting that most of a resident's total tax bill goes to the school district, county and other special districts.

Nelson walked through the three Orem line items on the notice. He said the city's general property tax line shows going to zero in the published notice because the city intends to dedicate its property tax receipts to the new Orem Public Safety special revenue fund, while a separate line labeled "Orem Public Safety Levy" increases from zero. He also pointed to a 0.333 line item labeled "Orem City bond" that pays for general obligation bonds voters approved in 2018.

Nelson invited questions about the notice and how those line items will appear on residents' bills. He asked that staff or others clarify the notice language so taxpayers understand which portions of their bill would change and which would remain under school, county or special-district levies.

The presentation did not include a timetable for when the levy would take effect, the precise impact on an individual tax bill in dollars or cents, or whether the levy requires a council vote or additional public hearings; those details were not specified in the remarks.