Residents and council members raise concerns about county tax hike and use of public infrastructure districts
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Summary
Public commenters and council members criticized a proposed 20% Salt Lake County tax increase and discussed public infrastructure districts (PIDs), which one council member called a hidden long-term tax on new homeowners.
Several speakers at the Riverton City Council meeting urged local officials to oppose a proposed Salt Lake County tax increase and warned about the effect of public infrastructure districts (PIDs) on new homeowners.
During the public-comment and council-report portions of the meeting, a resident who identified himself as Salt Lake County Councilman for District 2 said he opposed the county's proposed tax increase and described concern for working families likely to be affected. Several council members and residents also voiced opposition to a reported 20% county tax increase.
Resident Ruston Lance and other speakers urged transparency and additional public hearings before the county decision deadline that the speaker said was Dec. 9. Lance said he believed county leadership needs change and vowed to press the issue in coming weeks.
In council reports, Council member Hammond described public infrastructure districts (PIDs) to the council: PIDs allow a developer to create a local taxing entity to sell bonds for construction of infrastructure and then place a new tax line on homeowners' county bills to repay that debt. Hammond told the council that Utah passed enabling legislation in 2019 and said roughly $3.8 billion in PID debt has been issued since then. He said cities generally have no authority to decline a PID proposed by a developer that follows state procedures.
Council members said they were concerned that many home buyers are unaware a PID tax line may appear on their county tax bill and called for public education and consideration of how PIDs are used for residential development. Council member McDougall said the council's strategy of concentrating commercial uses on 126 South has helped increase city revenue and reduce residents' need for tax increases, and urged residents to stay informed and engaged.
No formal action was taken by the Riverton City Council at the meeting on the county tax or PID subject; council members and residents said they would continue communicating with county representatives and asking for additional hearings and transparency.