Salt Lake County Mayor Jenny Wilson says the County’s first tax adjustment since 2019 is needed to keep up with inflation and rising service demands. Voters will get their say Dec. 9 at a Truth-in-Taxation hearing.

According to Mayor Wilson, Salt Lake County’s property-tax rate has effectively declined for 15 years due to Utah’s Truth-in-Taxation law, which automatically reduces the certified rate as property values rise—keeping overall County revenue roughly flat unless leaders formally vote for an increase. While this prevents hidden tax hikes, it also means County revenues haven’t kept pace with inflation, population growth, or the rising costs of public safety and health services. 

The Salt Lake County Council will deliberate on Mayor Jenny Wilson’s proposed tax increase on Dec. 9. (Photo courtesy Salt Lake County Mayor’s Office)

Over that same 15-year period, inflation has eroded nearly 30% of the County’s purchasing power, even as average home values have soared from roughly $250,000 in 2010 to about $638,000 today.

The mayor’s proposed 19.63% adjustment would restore part of that lost ground, adding about $7.28 per month—or roughly $90 per year—for the average homeowner. Importantly, the increase affects only the County’s portion of the total property-tax bill—about 17%—with the remainder going to cities, school districts and service districts such as fire, water and sewer. In practical terms, the proposal adjusts just the County’s “slice” of the tax pie, not the full amount residents pay each year.

“Salt Lake County is a community that addresses vital needs, invests in parks and open spaces, enriches our lives through arts and culture, and protects public safety,” Wilson said in her October newsletter. “After years of tightening budgets and absorbing inflation, this adjustment is needed to sustain essential services and maintain a balanced budget.”

Where the money would go

Wilson emphasized that public safety consumes about 74% of the County’s general fund, supporting the sheriff’s office, the County Jail, the District Attorney and indigent defense. The increase, she said, would also preserve regional programs such as flood control, Meals on Wheels and public health initiatives.

The proposed budget also expands evidence-based alternatives to incarceration, such as mental-health treatment, early-intervention programs and community supervision—efforts the mayor says “make communities safer and stronger.”

Public input and the road to approval

The Salt Lake County Council is now reviewing Wilson’s proposal through a series of public meetings. The Council will vote on a preliminary budget Nov. 25, followed by a Truth-in-Taxation hearing on Dec. 9 at 6 p.m. at the Salt Lake County Government Center, 2001 S. State St. in Salt Lake City.

Salt Lake County Mayor Jenny Wilson address the City Council. (Photo courtesy Salt Lake County Mayor’s Office)

Residents can attend in person or submit comments online before the Council votes on the final budget later that evening. Utah’s Truth-in-Taxation law requires local governments to hold such a public hearing whenever they propose collecting more property-tax revenue than the previous year.

Public safety remains the flash point

The proposal comes one year after Salt Lake County voters rejected a $507-million public-safety bond that would have raised property taxes to expand jail capacity and build a new justice center. Roughly 52% of voters opposed the bond, citing confusion about its scope and overall costs. After the defeat, the County shifted to a smaller 0.2% sales-tax increase earlier this year to fund limited jail-expansion efforts.

That rejection still looms large in the background of this year’s debate. County officials argue that while voters turned down the bond, the need for additional funding to maintain core public-safety operations remains.

Part of a statewide trend

 Salt Lake County isn’t alone in revisiting property taxes. Across Utah, 59 cities, school districts and local entities have held or scheduled Truth-in-Taxation hearings this year—many citing inflation and unfunded state mandates. Neighboring counties such as Davis and Utah counties have also warned that they may consider rate adjustments next year to offset rising costs.

At the same time, the Utah State Tax Commission recently denied 35 requests for property-tax increases statewide, amounting to nearly $50 million in rejected revenue proposals—underscoring both the legal and political hurdles facing local governments seeking more funds.

Supporters of Wilson’s plan argue that the County’s budget has reached a breaking point. “Public safety, public health and regional services simply can’t keep running on 2019 dollars,” one budget analyst said. Critics counter that government should “tighten its belt” before asking residents for more, particularly as homeowners already face higher housing costs and assessments.

Residents who want to weigh in can find full budget details and a comment link at slco.to/rate.