MAY 2021
MAYOR’S MESSAGE In preparing for the FY 2021/ 2022 budget season, the City Council forwarded their recommendation to increase Holladay’s portion of property taxes to our City Manager. We are proposing a 50% increase to the current rate, the end result being an overall increase of 5% to your property tax bill. On a home assessed at $750,000, it would add approximately $20 a month to your total property tax bill. As a reminder, Holladay is just one of many entities authorized to impose property taxes. Our portion currently comprises about 10% of your total tax bill. If approved, it would increase our total piece of the pie by 5%, moving us from 10% to 15%, still 3% lower than the 18% we were capturing when originally incorporated (1999). We acknowledge that 50% is a big jump. We understood this when we formed our Citizen Advisory Group a few years back. After 14 months building and reviewing capital Improvement models, they unanimously recommended we adopt option #3 of the proposed recommendations---“Biggest Impact”. This option anticipated a 92% increase in the Holladay portion of your property taxes. It most aggressively addresses the $75M of unfunded capital improvement needs identified in the study. Subsequently, higher than anticipated sales tax proceeds and additional road funds allocated through county sales tax collections have increased revenue projections in the model that allowed us to reduce our ask from the original 92% to the 50% level we are proposing. We’re confident, based on these new numbers, that we can still implement the improvements anticipated in the “Biggest Impact” option. Our Council conducted a virtual roundtable the evening of April 15th. We received some valuable input. I would like to address a few of the questions and concerns expressed by our residents:
Why do you refer to a 5% increase when you’re asking for a 50% increase, isn’t that disingenuous? My concern in leading out with the proposed 50% increase to the Holladay tax levy is that residents might misinterpret that as their total tax bill would increase by 50% --- which is simply not true and would be shocking! The reality is that a 50% increase to the Holladay tax levy would result in a 5% overall increase to your total property tax bill. The Council felt that avoiding this misunderstanding would lead to a more productive community discussion. It’s not meant to intentionally mislead – simply an attempt to provide better context for the amount of potential property tax impact. We are not hiding the ball; our ask will be clear throughout the process.
The effects of inflation over time have reached a breaking point. If we want to properly maintain our roads, bridges, storm drains, canals… we have to put a plan in place to fund the improvements and the ongoing maintenance. What do we want the city to look like 20 years from now, and what are we willing to pay for? That is the question before our Council, and ultimately our residents. As elected officials we think we know the answer to this question, but need to receive your input before we make a final decision. It’s not easy, none of us enjoy asking for more money. Perhaps that is why we are where we are. I’m proud to serve on a Council that has the courage to raise this issue with their constituIf my assessed value continues to escalate, aren’t ents. I trust that if we are honest with you, if you feel we you capturing the corresponding increase in have done our due diligence, you’ll understand why we property taxes year over year; shouldn’t this suffice? feel this can should no longer be kicked down the road. The short answer is no. Truth in Taxation legislation requires municipalities to go out to the pubic if they intend I continue to encourage you to log on to the www.Hollto increase their portion of property taxes. If assessed aday20.com web site. We have produced video presentavalue goes up, your mil rate drops to keep your taxes tions, are addressing frequently asked questions (FAQs), level. This may vary a bit regionally between properties, posted the Citizen Advisory Group recommendation and but intentionally fixes the revenue stream the city receives created a space for your comments and concerns. This unless an increase is proposed and a Truth in Taxation will be a 3-year undertaking by the time we hold the Truth Hearing noticed through Salt Lake County. So when in Taxation Hearing (August). A tremendous amount of we say property taxes have not been raised in Holladay work has been expended to guide the process and educate since incorporation, this is what we mean. This is the first our constituents. We hope to schedule a few more virtual time our city has asked to increase your property taxes and in-person opportunities for public input over the next since incorporating. Other taxing entities, most notably few months. You can always call or email your Council Salt Lake County and Granite School District have raised Representative using the contact information posted in taxes a number of times over the past 20 years, this is this issue of The Journal or on the city web site. Your where your increase has come from. Please visit www. continued engagement is both critical and appreciated Holladay20.com, for a more detailed explanation. as we consider this important step for future of Holladay. Why now, why haven’t we been raising taxes along the way to address critical infrastructure needs?
Sincerely, Rob Dahle, Mayor
Mind Your “P’s & Q’s”: Park Manners Salt Lake County Animal Services Before you head out on an adventure to the park with your dog be sure to grab a few things: a leash, water, and waste disposal bags. The weather is warming up and you’re itching to take your dog for a walk or to the park. Remember when you’re out to keep your dogs leashed up. Any dog free roaming the neighborhood or the park, not on leash, is a “public nuisance animal”, animal at large, and is in violation of your city’s local ordinance. If your dog is off your property, it needs to be on leash. It’s the law. A good rule of thumb, if you’re hot and thirsty, your dog is as well. Be sure to take water on long walks to the park or around the neighborhood. You never know when the water fountains may be out of service or perhaps there isn’t any running water available for your dog to drink. Remember to grab a few dog waste bags before heading out on your adventure in the neighborhood or to the park. Isn’t it the worst when you’re in the middle of a walk and you pull out the last dog waste bag from a roll? Look around the park to see if there are any posted dog waste stands with more bags. It is against the law to not pick up after your dog. Have a safe and happy summer with your 4-legged family! If you have questions, please contact Salt Lake County Animal Services at 385-GOT-PETS or AdoptUtahPets.org.