Property tax hikes are fewer this year

(Deseret News) Here's a glimmer of good news in the recession for Utah taxpayers: The number of local governments that increased property-tax revenues this year dropped by a third.

Last year, 81 local governments raised such taxes. This year, 56 did — about 30 percent fewer.

That means property-tax revenues were increased by 11 percent of Utah's 520 or so local governments that charge property taxes — from cities to counties, school districts, water districts and even mosquito abatement districts.

That is according to a Deseret News analysis of State Tax Commission data about final tax rates imposed by governments statewide that had started the "truth-in-taxation" process to possibly raise them.

Counties by law must mail final property-tax bills to home?owners by Nov. 1, and taxes are due by Nov. 30.

The reduced number of tax hikes comes during an election year for cities when residents might punish politicians who raise taxes.

That may also have led to one of every five governments that had proposed tax hikes to cut them at least a bit after required truth-in-taxation public hearings.

Original Article