According to the notice of a public hearing on the district’s website, the proposed increase would raise taxes on a typical home from $988.99 to $1,103.39 a year, an increase of roughly $114, and from $1,798.16 to $2,006.16 a year for a business, equating to an additional $208.

Totals are based on the median property value of $520,000, which is a rate set by the county.

If approved, the Alpine School District would receive an additional $22,853,589 in property tax revenue per year as a result of the proposed increase, thus raising its property tax revenue by 10.45% above last year’s amount, excluding eligible new growth, the notice reads.

The Alpine School District says the increase is needed to help with startup costs for new school districts that will be emerging over the next couple of years and to fund new facilities, though specifics as to how and where the funds may be used was not explained in the public notice.

The Alpine School District’s truth-in-taxation fact sheet contains reasons for the proposed increase, including:

• To provide new districts flexibility with startup funds for capital projects.
• To create a school building fund that reportedly would reduce the need for future bonding and provide a large savings in interest paid.

The increase is not certain at this point, but if approved, it would mark the fifth tax hike in five years imposed on taxpayers living within the district’s boundaries.

The Alpine School District’s Board of Education would hold a public hearing on the matter at 6 p.m. Tuesday, where residents are encouraged to weigh in and learn more about the proposed increase.

The hearing will take place in the Alpine School District’s board room, located at 575 N. 100 East in American Fork.