Sunset approves tax increase

SUNSET (Deseret News) — The Sunset city budget has $44,000 more now, following a tax increase approved Tuesday evening.

The City Council approved the measure 4-1, with Councilwoman Cheryl Budge casting the dissenting vote.

Councilman Ricky Carlson told residents it was a hard decision to even propose a tax increase in a slumping economy.

But the money will be used to make up a shortfall that exists after the city instituted a hiring freeze, and cut out cost-of-living or merit raises for employees. A police car and a dump truck that had originally been part of the budget are no longer there, as well.

The tax increase changes the revenue collected from property taxes in Sunset from $155,941 to $200,000, a 28.25 percent increase in revenue.

That means that the average home in Sunset valued at $131,000 will see the city portion of property taxes increase from $83.36 to $106.85, a $23.49 per year increase.

Original Article