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Residents urge Uintah council to reject tax increase and question proposed pay raise
Summary
At the Aug. 19 meeting residents pressed the council over a proposed tax increase and a proposed pay raise for council members; one speaker said the city had drawn national attention and urged reversal, while another asked for clarity about council salaries.
At the Aug. 19 Uintah City Council meeting, residents voiced opposition to a proposed tax increase and asked the council to reconsider a proposed increase in council pay.
Marilyn Pearson asked how much council members are paid after seeing a proposal for a salary increase. Resident Dean Larson told the council he "expressed strong opposition to the city's decision to raise taxes," said the action had made national news and called the proposal a "liberal, progressive, left-wing policy" that would "double your citizens' taxes." He urged council members to change course and said the increase would take money from residents' households.
The council did not take an immediate vote on compensation during public comment. Mayor Cutler later explained that the proposed pay increase would take effect Jan. 1 if approved — he said the mayor currently makes $500 and council members $300, and described the delayed effective date as intended to allow citizens time to lobby council members. He encouraged residents to contact council members with concerns.
Why it matters: The compensation proposal and the broader tax increase prompted multiple citizens to speak, signaling local political opposition that the council said it expects to hear from constituents before any change becomes effective.
