[CALL TO ORDER]
[00:00:08]
GOOD EVENING. IT IS NOW 6:00 AND THE COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE ALL PRESENT, AS WELL AS COUNCIL STAFF AND ADMINISTRATION STAFF ARE GOING TO BEGIN WITH A PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE WITH OUR OWN PAUL JEROME WILL LEAD US IN THAT. YES. WILL THE PUBLIC PLEASE STAND AND REPEAT THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE WITH ME? I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS. ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND
[a. Truth in Taxation Public Hearing]
JUSTICE FOR ALL. THANK YOU. TONIGHT IS OUR TRUTH AND TAXATION HEARING. AND FIRST WE'RE GOING TO HEAR FROM MISS STECK. COME ON UP. HELLO. WE'RE GOING TO QUICKLY GO THROUGH A SLIDE PRESENTATION AS REQUIRED BY THE TRUTH AND TAXATION LEGISLATION. SO THAT CODE IS IN CODE 50 929 19. IT CHANGED AGAIN THIS YEAR. I THINK IT CHANGES ALMOST EVERY YEAR, GIVES US NEW REQUIREMENTS AND NEW COMPLIANCE, REQUIRES A PUBLIC HEARING, WHICH YOU'RE DOING THIS EVENING. AND ALL NOTICING REQUIREMENTS UNDER THE NEW CODE HAVE BEEN MET. THOSE OF YOU THAT HAVE GONE THROUGH THIS PROCESS BEFORE, TRUTH AND TAXATION HAS A DIRECT CORRELATION WITH PROPERTY VALUES. AND SO THERE'S A LOT OF MISCONCEPTION OUT THERE THAT, HEY, MY PROPERTY IS INCREASED IN VALUE, THEREFORE MY TAXES HAVE INCREASED. BUT THAT IS NOT THE CASE. SO PROPERTY TAX RATES REDUCE WHEN VALUES INCREASE AND WHEN VALUES DECREASE THEN RATES GO UP. I'VE SEEN THE RIGHT HAND OF THE SLIDE ONCE IN MY CAREER IN 2008, NINE AND TEN, BUT THE REST OF THE YEARS HAVE ALL BEEN ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE SLIDE HERE, WHERE PROPERTY VALUES HAVE GONE UP, BUT TAX RATES HAVE GONE DOWN. WHAT THAT MEANS ISN'T THAT EVERY PROPERTY WILL PAY THE SAME TAX FROM YEAR TO YEAR. THAT'S ALSO A MISCONCEPTION. SOME HOMES VALUES WILL GO UP AT A GREAT RATE GREATER THAN MAYBE EVEN THEIR NEXT DOOR NEIGHBOR, OR ANOTHER ONE IN ANOTHER AREA. THE RATES ARE ACTUALLY CALCULATED ON THE ENTIRE CITY'S VALUE, INCLUDING BUSINESSES AND NEW GROWTH AND INDUSTRIAL AREAS. SO THOSE ALL PLAY INTO THE MIX. BUT NO MATTER WHAT, THE CITY GETS THE SAME REVENUE. SO YOU'LL SEE THE ENTIRE CITY IMPACT HERE. LAST YEAR IN 2024, OUR RATE WAS 0.001428, AND WE HAD $20.8 MILLION OF PROPERTY TAX REVENUE, ALONG WITH SOME DEBT. THAT WAS THAT WAS THE LAST DEBT PAYMENT.SO THAT WAS THE FINAL PAYMENT IN 2025, OUR CERTIFIED TAX RATE. SO SAYING THAT EVERY DOLLAR THE CITY WOULD GET IS THE SAME OUTSIDE OF NEW GROWTH. OUR TAX RATE WOULD REDUCE TO 0.001289.
AND WE WOULD RECEIVE THE SAME EXACT DOLLAR FOR DOLLAR. THE PROPOSED TAX RATE IS 3% INCREASE AND WILL BRING AN ADDITIONAL $645,645. OTHER AREAS THAT HAVE TAX INCREASES IN SALT LAKE COUNTY. THIS IS A LIST OF ALL OF THEM AND THE TAX INCREASES. AND WE'VE HIGHLIGHTED WEST JORDAN CITY. THE ACTUAL CALCULATION CAME OUT TO BE 2.93% FOR THE REVENUE THAT WE WERE REQUESTING.
AND THAT'S ON AN AVERAGE HOME, THAT HOME VALUED AT $550,000. YOU CAN SEE THE AVERAGE HOME VALUES IN THE TOWNS AS WELL. YES, THE TOWN OF ALTA HAS A VERY HIGH HOME VALUE. THE TAXPAYER IMPACT OF THIS TAX INCREASE IS ACTUALLY AN INCREASE OF $2 OVERALL. SO YOU CAN SEE THAT IN 2024, OUR TAXPAYERS PAID ABOUT $415 FOR THE AVERAGE HOME VALUE. THE CERTIFIED CHANGE WAS A DECREASE OF $10, BRINGING IT DOWN TO $390 A YEAR. SO UNDER THE CERTIFIED TAX RATE, AN AVERAGE HOME WOULD BE PAYING $10 LESS THAN THEY PAID THE PREVIOUS YEAR. OUR PROPOSED TAX INCREASE WILL ADD THAT $10 BACK IN AND THEN ADD TWO MORE DOLLARS. SO IT WOULD BE $402 OR $2 MORE THAN THEY PAID IN 2024. BUT IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THE DEBT THAT WAS PAID WAS $15 IN 2024, AND THAT DEBT IS NOW GONE. THEREFORE, THE PROPERTY TAXPAYERS WILL SEE A REDUCED TAX OF $13 OVERALL WHEN YOU INCLUDE THE DEBT. PROPERTY TAX BILLS LOOK LIKE THIS. AND SO YOU CAN
[00:05:06]
SEE THAT THE TAX IT TAX INCREASE, IF APPROVED, IS 472. IF NO CHANGE IT WOULD HAVE BEEN THREE 8992. AND THEN YOU CAN SEE THE DIFFERENTIAL. SO THAT'S HOW IT WAS ADVERTISED AND SENT TO PEOPLE'S HOMES. THIS WAS ALSO THE FIRST YEAR IF YOU LOOKED ON THE BACK OF YOUR PROPERTY TAX NOTICE THAT ALL OF THE ENTITIES THAT HAD TAX INCREASES WERE LISTED, WHICH WAS KIND OF A NEW CHANGE AND WAS ACTUALLY REALLY NICE. IT ALSO HAD THE WEBSITES WHERE YOU COULD CLICK ON THEM OR TYPE THEM INTO YOUR URL AND FIND OUT HOW THOSE CITIES WERE UTILIZING THOSE TAX INCREASE FUNDS. AND WE HAD ONE AS WELL. OUR PROPERTY TAX DISTRIBUTION. THE AVERAGE WAS JORDAN HOMES PROPERTY TAX THIS YEAR IS ESTIMATED AT $2,723, OR $227 A MONTH FOR EVERY AVERAGE HOME OF THAT AMOUNT, THE CITY RECEIVES $402 OR $33 A MONTH, SO WE RECEIVE ABOUT $0.15 OF EVERY DOLLAR THAT IS PAID IN PROPERTY TAX. IT'S LESS THAN THE COUNTY WHO RECEIVES $0.20 OF EVERY DOLLAR, AND THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS RECEIVE ABOUT $0.57 OF EVERY DOLLAR. THE USES OF THIS TAX INCREASE ARE TO PAY FOR INFLATIONARY COST INCREASES, AS WELL AS SOME GROWTH OF SERVICES THROUGHOUT THE BUDGET. SO NEW GROWTH PAYS FOR THIS GROWTH AS WELL AS AN INCREASE IN PROPERTY TAX. SO TWO ADDITIONAL POLICE OFFICERS PARTIALLY PAID FOR BY COPS GRANTS, ONE ADDITIONAL FIREFIGHTER, TWO NEW PART TIME COMMUNITY SERVICE OFFICERS FOR PARKING ENFORCEMENT, AND A NEW CONCRETE CREW OF FOUR EMPLOYEES. WHERE DO OUR TAX DOLLARS GO? SO THERE'S A DIRECT CORRELATION HERE AS WELL FOR TAX DOLLARS. SO YOU SEE THAT PROPERTY TAX THERE IS KIND OF SLID OFF ON THE PIE AS THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TONIGHT. IT'S ABOUT 20 OR 23.45% OF OUR REVENUE OVERALL.BUT PROPERTY TAX AND SALES TAX TOGETHER ACCOUNT FOR ABOUT PAYING FOR OUR POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENTS. SO YOU CAN SEE THAT NEXUS THERE. THE REST OF REVENUES THAT COME IN TYPICALLY ARE PAYING FOR MOSTLY LIKE STREETS AND GENERAL GOVERNMENT AND NON-DEPARTMENTAL AND DEBT.
IF YOU DROP THE AVERAGE WEST JORDAN HOME IN ANY OTHER CITY, HERE'S WHAT THEIR PROPERTY TAX WOULD BE. WE WANT TO FOCUS ON THIS AND MAKE SURE THAT OUR MESSAGING IS OUT THERE, THAT WE REMAIN ONE OF THE MOST AFFORDABLE PLACES TO OWN A HOME OR A BUSINESS. YOU CAN SEE HERE THAT WE'RE IN THE VERY BOTTOM OF THIS LIST COMPARED TO MANY OF THE OTHER AGENCIES. NOW, THIS LIST DOES COMPARE THE AGENCIES THAT AND INCLUDE THE TAX RATES FOR POLICE AND FIRE IF THEY'RE USING A SPECIAL DISTRICT AS WELL, SO THAT YOU COULD SEE AN OVERALL APPLES TO APPLES KIND OF PICTURE. BEST PRACTICES. THE COUNCIL HAS DISCUSSED THIS AT LENGTH FOR MANY YEARS, BUT IT STILL LISTEN TO THE TAXPAYER. WHAT WE SEE THIS YEAR. MANY ARTICLES ON SOME OF THE LARGEST TAX INCREASES IN THE STATE RIGHT NOW. AND IT HAS TO DO WITH NOT ADDRESSING THIS ON AN ANNUAL BASIS. SO IN ORDER TO NOT MAKE LARGE JUMPS EVERY 5 TO 7 YEARS OR EVEN LONGER, AND NOT DOING 20 AND 30% TAX INCREASES, WE SEEM TO ADDRESS IT INFLATION ANNUALLY. AND WE LOOK AT THE BUDGET FROM ALMOST A ZERO PERSPECTIVE. EVERY YEAR WE ADDRESS SERVICE LEVEL DEMANDS.
WE ASKED THE COUNCIL WHAT IS IT THAT YOU WANT TO FUND, AND HOW DO WE WANT TO FUND THAT? WHAT DO YOU NOT WANT TO FUND? WHAT DO YOU WANT TO SEE CHANGED? AND WE GO THROUGH THOSE AND WORK SESSIONS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, AND WE'D LIKE TO MAINTAIN LONG TERM SUSTAINABILITY WITH OUR ONGOING REVENUE AND COUNCIL. YOU DO A GREAT JOB WITH ONGOING TO ONE TIME. THERE'S INDEPENDENCE AND OVERSIGHT IN THIS PROCESS. SO TO ENSURE THAT INDEPENDENCE, WE DON'T DO ANY OF THE CALCULATIONS OUTSIDE OF OUR OWN BUDGET, SAYING THIS IS THE REVENUE THAT WE WOULD NEED TO BALANCE OUR BUDGET. BUT ASSESSED VALUES ON PROPERTY ARE DONE BY THE SALT LAKE COUNTY ASSESSOR'S OFFICE TO ENSURE FURTHER INDEPENDENCE. THE CALCULATION AND NOTICING ARE DONE BY THE AUDITOR'S OFFICE. THE SALT LAKE COUNTY AUDITOR'S OFFICE. THE PROCESS PROCESS OVERSIGHT IS MAINTAINED BY THE STATE AUDITOR. SO YOU GO EVEN FURTHER UP AND THEN THE ACTUAL COLLECTION OF OUR PROPERTY TAX IS DONE BY THE STATE TAX COMMISSION. SO WE'VE GOT SEVERAL ENTITIES THAT ARE INVOLVED, AND THEY ALL HAVE INDEPENDENCE AND OVERSIGHT OF THE PROCESS. WE'RE NOT INVOLVED IN ANY OF THAT PORTION OF IT. THE NEXT STEPS IS THAT YOU WILL ADOPT A PROPERTY TAX RATE AND WILL ADOPT THE FINAL BUDGET ON SEPTEMBER 1ST, WHATEVER THE COUNCIL DECIDES. AND THE NEXT COUNCIL MEETING IS SCHEDULED FOR TUESDAY, AUGUST 26TH AT 6 P.M. THAT CONCLUDES THE PRESENTATION FOR THIS EVENING. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. I'LL USE MY MIC. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. WE WILL
[00:10:01]
NOW OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING. YOU WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL. THIS IS FOR THE TAX INCREASE. SETTING THE RATE. IS THERE ANYONE ONLINE, MR. ANDERSON? THERE IS NO ONE ONLINE TONIGHT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. MR. ANDERSON. IS THERE ANYONE IN THE AUDIENCE THAT WOULD LIKE TO COME FORWARD? IF SO, PLEASE DO SO NOW. SINCE YOU THE ONLY ONE THAT'S NOT STAFF.HI, MY NAME IS NOT STAFF. I LIVE IN WEST JORDAN. ACTUALLY, MY NAME IS ROB BENNETT, BUT YOU ALL KNOW THAT ALREADY. AND CITY OF RESIDENCE. DID YOU SAY YOU LIVE IN WEST JORDAN? YEAH, I BELIEVE I LIVE IN WEST JORDAN. YES. I BELIEVE THAT THE INFORMATION THAT'S BEEN PRESENTED HAS BEEN VERY EFFECTIVE. ONE OF THE COMPLAINTS THAT I'VE HAD IN PREVIOUS YEARS HAS BEEN THE DIFFICULTY OF GETTING APPROPRIATE INFORMATION OUT TO THE TAXPAYERS, SO THEY ARE ACTUALLY AWARE OF WHERE THE MONEY HAS COME FROM, WHERE WHAT THEY'RE PAYING IS GOING TO, AND THE CHANGES THAT THEY'RE SEEING ON THEIR TAX BILL, HOW THAT ACTUALLY PANS OUT IN REAL LIFE.
I NOTICED THAT WHEN I REQUESTED THE DETAILS OF WHAT THIS 2.93 PROPERTY TAX INCREASE IS GOING TO BE CONSISTING OF TWO POLICE OFFICERS, ONE FIREFIGHTER, TWO CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS, AND THE CONCRETE CREW TO HELP TAKE CARE OF THE SIDEWALKS AROUND THE CITY THAT ARE CAUSING PEOPLE TO LOSE THEIR BALANCE AND FALL AND HAVE ACCIDENTS. AND MOST OF THE TIME, THIS IS KIDS RIDING THEIR BICYCLES. IF THERE'S A WAY THAT WE CAN HAVE THE CITY BECOME A MORE SAFE, A MORE WELCOMING PLACE BY ASKING PEOPLE LIKE ME TO CONTRIBUTE $2 MORE A YEAR, I BELIEVE I AM WILLING TO DO THAT.
I THINK THAT THAT IS A REASONABLE REQUEST, AND I ACTUALLY APPRECIATE THIS CITY COUNCIL AND PREVIOUS CITY COUNCILS WHO HAVE ADDRESSED THIS ISSUE ON A YEARLY BASIS, RATHER THAN WAITING 10 OR 20 YEARS BEFORE MAKING HUGE PROPERTY TAX INCREASES THAT ARE NOT SUSTAINABLE FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE ON RESTRICTED INCOMES. SO I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT, AS A RESIDENT, I CAN SUPPORT, I DO NOT FEEL THE CITY IS TAKING ADVANTAGE OF ME AS A TAXPAYER. I FEEL THAT THIS IS A REASONABLE WAY TO DEAL. EXCUSE ME WITH THE SAFETY OF THE CITY AND TO INCREASE OUR ABILITY TO FEEL WELCOME AND PROTECTED WHILE WE LIVE HERE. SO I WOULD RECOMMEND THAT WHEN THE TIME COMES FOR YOU TO ADOPT THIS NEW BUDGET, THAT YOU CAN FEEL REASONABLE ABOUT HAVING RECEIVED SOME PUBLIC COMMENT THAT IS IN SUPPORT OF THIS. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. IF THERE'S NO ONE ELSE THAT WISHES TO SPEAK, STILL NO ONE. I WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND I WILL CONSIDER THIS MEETING ADJOURNED. UNLESS THERE'S SOMEONE THAT WANTS TO SAY NO,
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.