July 2022 | Vol. 9 Iss. 07
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MODEST 10% TAYLORSVILLE PROPERTY TAX HIKE APPROVED WITH NO RESIDENT OPPOSITION By Carl Fauver | c.fauver@mycityjournals.com
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aylorsville High School will be safer… Taylorsville-Bennion Heritage Center will be sturdier… Taylorsville Senior Center will be more weatherproof… city employees will receive a pay increase… city streets will be better illuminated… and Taylorsville pickle ball players will have more places to enjoy their sport… all as part of the just-approved 2022-23 Taylorsville City fiscal year budget – which also includes residents’ first property tax increase in nine years. “No one likes paying more taxes and elected officials don’t like raising them – but we knew we had to do something this year,” Mayor Kristie Overson said. “With inflation and rising gas prices, we could not put it off another year. Most cities (across the Salt Lake Valley) are talking about tax increases this year. What we are asking for is not for fluff. It’s for basic services: gas, oil, construction, labor.” Back in 2013, the city council raised taxes 29.5%. But the very next year they cut those taxes significantly. This time around, the approved tax increase is a much more modest 10%. “We expect this tax increase to generate an additional $340,000 to $370,000 for the new budget,” Taylorsville Chief Financial Officer Scott Harrington explained. “Home owners with an assessed value of $340,000 will have tax increases of $15.44. If your assessed home value is higher, say $462,000, the tax hike will be $21. That’s for the entire year – not monthly increases.” City Council members unanimously approved the modest tax hike during their June 1 meeting. Just before the vote, Council Chair Anna Barbieri opened a public comment period on the proposal. Two residents did speak briefly during the hearing – but no one lodged any complaints about it. “The tax increase only amounts to about $1.50 per month, per Several significant structural repairs are now underway at the Taylorsville-Bennion Heritage Center, thanks to the City Council Continued page 4
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One year later
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budgeting $70,000 for the work over the past two years. (Carl Fauver/City Journals)
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Kid’s market
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Anti-boredom activities
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