Why water property taxes are going up in Salt Lake Metropolis and Sandy

SALT LAKE CITY — Property taxes in two Salt Lake County cities are rising to satisfy a rising want for water infrastructure enhancements.

Salt Lake Metropolis leaders have authorized the Metropolitan Water District of Salt Lake Metropolis and Sandy advice to extend property tax assortment from 0.00020% to 0.00035%. Sandy leaders authorized an identical tax improve on Might 7.

“We have to put the funding the place it must be and this can preserve our water protected for future generations,” stated Salt Lake Metropolis Councilman Alejandro Puy, earlier than the Metropolis Council’s vote on Might 21.

The Metropolitan Water District of Salt Lake Metropolis and Sandy is the wholesale water supplier for each cities. Per its web site, practically half of its funds come from water gross sales, whereas property tax and assessments account for the remainder.

Annalee Munsey, the district’s normal supervisor, defined there’s now “important getting old infrastructure” and different infrastructure wants that require extra funding. This contains 4 main initiatives throughout the district:

• Required seismic changes and different enhancements to the getting old Salt Lake aqueduct.
• Required consumption changes to the Deer Creek Dam. Whereas situated in Provo Canyon, about 80% of the reservoir’s “water portfolio” is directed to the Salt Lake Valley. That equates to about 85,000 acre-feet of water, yearly.
• Enhancements to the getting old water infrastructure in Salt Lake Metropolis’s Northwest Quadrant.
• Prices related to the district’s funding in Central Utah Challenge water.

The board authorized a 3% water charge improve on prime of the recommended property tax adjustments to deal with these wants.

The change is estimated to price about $49 per 12 months for a Salt Lake Metropolis resident with a median property worth of $596,000, in keeping with metropolis officers. It is barely much less in Sandy. Tom Godfrey, chairman of the district’s board of trustees, stated the rise is anticipated to generate a bit of over $8.6 million yearly between the 2 cities.

He added the district plans to conduct a “common evaluation” of property taxes each three years. Per Utah code, the district is permitted to problem as excessive as a 0.0005% property tax for water initiatives.

Between the formal assembly and informational assembly each held on Might 21, Puy stated it is “all the time robust” to speak about tax raises; nonetheless, the cash is “wanted” as Salt Lake Metropolis’s inhabitants continues to develop now and sooner or later. His colleagues agreed.

“We do not wish to find yourself like a headline much like Flint, Michigan. We wish to safe our infrastructure for future generations,” stated Salt Lake Metropolis Councilwoman Eva López Chávez. “This is a crucial and vital funding in our metropolis.”

The measure comes as Utah lawmakers have began to look into the apply of property taxes enacted by water districts. Water conservation teams argue property taxes subsidize the price of utilizing water, which ends up in overconsumption.

The Utah Legislature handed a invoice final 12 months directing the Utah Division of Water Assets to evaluation the apply. It has till Oct. 30 to offer a report again to state leaders.