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1. What types of services are paid for from the General and Municipal Funds?

The General and Municipal funds support the following services and programs:

General Fund	Municipal Fund
Ambulance Service	Law Enforcement
Waste Collection	Snow Plowing
Corrections (Jail)	Road Maintenance
Library	Community Development and Planning
Public Health
Basic Antenna Television Service
Youth Recreation

2. Will this impact primary and secondary property owners differently?

Yes. Property owners will be taxed on their taxable value, which is 100% of the property's market value for secondary homeowners, and 55% of the property's market value for primary owners.

3. When was the last time Summit County increased property tax revenues?

Summit County increased property tax revenues for the Municipal Fund through a Truth in Taxation process in 2013 to ensure completion of road projects and enhance law enforcement services. 

Summit County has no record of increasing property taxes for the General Fund going back as far as the early 1980’s. 

4. Will residents get to vote on this increase?

The property tax revenue increase is not a ballot measure. Residents are encouraged to comment on the proposed tax increase during one of three public meetings/public hearings scheduled to address the proposed increase. A public meeting is scheduled for October 11, 2017, and two public hearings are scheduled for December 6, 2017 and December 13, 2017 (this is when it would be adopted). The County Council will vote on the recommended increase. 

5. Why is a tax rate increase needed?

Summit County needs to increase property tax revenues to keep up with inflation and maintain expected service levels in the community. If the County does not increase revenues, services and programs that are supported by the General and Municipal funds will need to be reduced or eliminated in order to adopt a balanced budget. 

6. How will the community benefit from increased revenues?

An increase in property tax revenues will allow the County to continue addressing the Council’s strategic priorities of environmental sustainability, workforce housing, transportation and mental wellness & substance abuse and continue providing the level of service that residents have come to expect.

7. How long will this increase sustain the County?

The Utah Taxpayers Association recommends taxing entities raise rates through truth in taxation every five to eight years to address inflation. The County does not intend to increase property tax revenues every 5-8 years, but will instead evaluate whether additional revenues are needed to sustain programs and services every 5-8 years. 

8. What will happen if the Council decides not to increase revenues?

Without an increase, the County will be required to slow progress in key areas and implement further cost-saving measures which will result in the reduction or elimination of basic services. Possible impacts include: 

• Reduction in emergency services including law enforcement and ambulance
• Delayed snow removal
• Less frequent upkeep and repairs to roads
• Reduction to mental health programs
• Impact to staff wages and benefits

9. Are there cost savings we haven’t realized yet? Have we tightened our belts enough?

Summit County has the lowest general tax rate of all 29 counties in Utah. The County is fiscally responsible and has made many cost-saving efforts over the years to maintain programs and services while keeping up with community demands. Cost saving measures include automating processes, reducing staff, limiting debt, utilizing a “pay-as-you-go” system for capital projects, and changing employee health and risk management insurance to self-insure. 

10. We voted to increase the sales tax last year for road maintenance and improvements. How is this different?

Revenues from these specific sales taxes are restricted in use and can only be used for designated purposes.  They cannot be moved to the General or Municipal funds to support basic services and programs. 

11. Why is the County looking to raise property tax revenues when open space purchases are being made?

Open space is a high priority for residents of Park City and Snyderville Basin. In recent elections Snyderville Basin Recreation District residents voted to tax themselves so specific open space purchases could be made. The money that was used for these purchases does not come from the County General or Municipal funds and it cannot be used to support services in those funds.