BARBARA CHRISTIANSEN - North County Staff | Posted: Friday, July 21, 2006 11:00 pm
American Fork is inviting residents to a series of public hearings about a planned tax increase.
The City Council has proposed a 35 percent increase on the city's portion of the property tax to help bring police wages for line officers and sergeants up to competitive levels. It would include a four percent cost of living increase for other city employees, and would provide maintenance and upgrades to roads and sidewalks. There would be some equipment upgrades and new personnel.
"We anticipate that would be a $75.45 a year increase on a $170,000 home, considered average in Utah County," City Budget Officer Cathy Jensen said.
Mayor Heber Thompson said he wanted the residents to be aware of the proposal and why the city was making it.
"We want to alert the citizens about our budget situation and the critical situation and the immediate need for improvement," he said.
Thompson said the unofficial response he has already had has been positive.
"Citizens have talked to me and said it is about time," he said. "They say we need to do something with the police wages, equipment, updating our fees, capital improvements like streets and roads.
"There were several things they indicated they felt needed attention that have been neglected for some time. I have been encouraged by those conversations before we have done extensive education work."
Thompson said he felt with the additional education, the public would support the proposed tax increase.
He encouraged the public to attend the town meetings and public hearing.
"We would like to get the opinion from the public," he said. "We would like them to support this. We would like them to feel these are important, critical items that need attention."
Town meetings on the tax increase will be held at 7 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday at the American Fork Public Library, 64 S. 100 East.
There will be a public hearing Aug. 8 preceding the Council's vote on the issue that evening.
Both those will also be held at the library.
This story appeared in The Daily Herald on page D1.