Despite protests from some residents, Cedar Hills City Council voted to increase city property taxes for next year. The hike means the owner of a $300,000 residence will pay $43.23 more per year. The owner of a $300,000 business will pay $78.60 more per year.

The approval in August followed a Truth in Taxation hearing during which several residents spoke against the proposal.

Shanna Wilkinson, 70, said she lives on a fixed income, and accused the council of taxing her out of her home. Even little increases add up, she said.

"These 'little' increases -- I don't get a raise that comes in the air to pay for this. Someone's gotta pull in the belt," Wilkinson said.

Ken Kirk, who said he is closer to retirement than he wants to be, wanted to hear the justification for the increase before he could agree with it. Brent Uibel wanted assurance that the increase will pay for necessities and not for a "wishlist."

Mayor Mike McGee said the increase is necessary because of rising costs throughout the city.

Council members argued for more than an hour before voting 3-2 in favor of the tax. Council members Charelle Bowman and Joel Wright voted against the increase.

The vote means the city will keep its certified tax rate the same as last year, causing a small increase in taxes, since the property valuation on most homes was increased this year. Normally, the city's calculated tax rate, .00169 percent, would have gone down slightly this year to compensate for the increase in property values.

"I wish we weren't doing it," said Councilman Jim Perry. "We do more with less, and it's hard, but we do it anyway. I don't know where else to cut, though."

"I can't justify cutting things I know are needed," said Councilman Gary Maxwell.

Bowman said she was against the increase because residents are already paying taxes for the golf course bond, and will continue doing so this year. With the golf course bond, the city's calculated tax rate is .002619, one of the highest in the county.

"Like I said before, if the golf course had been resolved already, I would have voted differently," Bowman said. "Once the golf course bond is gone, we'll be one of the lowest, one of the lowest."

Maxwell told those gathered that because the city plans to start development on city-owned golf course property, council members hope the debt will be retired within a year or two.

This story appeared in The Daily Herald on page B2.