Public hearing set for CVSSD tax increase

By PATSY STODDARD Editor

The Castle Valley Special Service District is in the process of advertising for a tax increase. This tax increase was voted on by the Emery County voters in November of 2009. In that election the voters approved the extension of The District’s Operation and Maintenance tax of .001.
The proposed tax rate will increase the tax on a $100,000 residence from $139.64 to $141.93 which is an increase of $2.29. The tax on a business of $100,000 would increase from 253.90 to $258.07 which is an increase of $4.17 per year. A public hearing to receive input on the proposed increase is slated for Dec. 21 at 6 p.m. in the Emery County Commission chambers.
When CVSSD attempted to implement the .001 operation and maintenance tax rate this year, the Utah State Tax Commission indicated that it could not be done until the proper Truth-in-Taxation advertising had been completed. In 2009, with assistance from The District’s bond attorney, CVSSD’s tax election was held and approved by voters. A bond election was held at the same time. The current Truth-in-Taxation advertising and subsequent public hearing are substantively similar to the advertising and public hearing that took place prior to the election in 2009. However, it must now be re-done with protocol as required by the Utah State Tax Commission and State Code Section 59-2-219 in order to implement the correct tax rate for the District.
This advertising and notice to tax payers keeps them aware of what the tax increase is and how it will affect the individual tax payer as well as businesses paying taxes in the county. It should be mentioned that the CVSSD tax rate shown on your individual tax notice from the County is the combined total of the District’s Operation and Maintenance tax rate and Debt Service tax rate. The Debt Service tax rate is used to pay off the bonds that are acquired by the District to complete various capital improvement projects throughout the county each year. It should also be noted that another round of advertising will be required in July and August of 2011 regarding the Operation and Maintenance tax rate. A second public hearing is also required, and will take place in August 2011.