The tax rate increase of 0.001500 is less than the proposed increase of 0.001700, which would have been a 220.88% increase to bring in an additional $6,742,938 in revenue. 

The property tax increase, which will be Eagle Mountain’s first in 15 years, will go completely to fund public safety, according to the city. The city said the proposed rate of 220.88% would give the city a total of $9,798,139 in property tax revenue, covering a new Utah County Sheriff’s Office contract dollar for dollar. 

The city said the original tax proposal would increase the number of deputies from one per 2,200 residents to one per 1,833 residents.

Council members acknowledged at Thursday’s meeting that the increase would free up sales tax money to be used for other areas of the city budget. 

“This communication that 100% of the tax increase goes to public safety is true. … What that now does is it takes the sales tax that we were essentially robbing from sales tax to support public safety to do other things,” Councilman Craig Whiting said.  “(Such as) several different hires within the city. Wage increases for employees.” 

Several residents spoke against the proposed increase during a lengthy public comment period prior to the council’s vote. 

Resident Andrew Burke expressed frustration over a lack of transparency. 

“If you’ve allotted a certain amount for improvement under the guise of public safety, why can’t you give us an itemized report before you say, ‘Yeah, we’re voting on this.’ Let us know what you’re increasing,” he said. “If you are going to do this, can we get an itemized line for how every dollar is going to be spent? 

Resident John Breeding accused the city of setting a high proposed increase, then lowering it at the end to reduce public scrutiny.

“I believe that a 220% increase is kind of a head fake that I don’t think anybody here actually believes that that is what is g0ing to happen,” Breeding said. “But when you could eventually come up with about a 40% increase in taxes, which is also outrageous, people will be less up in arms about it.” 

Others expressed concern over taxes going up amid an increased cost of living, particularly in a city where the median age is 23. 

 “The cost of living is making it harder and harder for the average family to get by,” Dave Bresnahan said. “The added proposed tax adds to that burden and makes life more difficult than it already is for the vast majority of all these young families.”

“If we as citizens are tightening our belts and we’re deciding what we have to cut out of our lives, so must the city,” resident Duncan Searcy said.