The Alpine School District in Utah County recently approved a property tax increase, which will impact residents within the district. The decision was made during a board of education meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 13, 2024. The certified rate for FY 2025 will see an increase from .005715 to .006115, representing a 7% overall increase. This means that homeowners with a median home value of $489,000 will pay around an additional $107 in annual property taxes, or roughly $9 a month.
During the meeting, Alpine School District Business Administrator Jason Sundberg presented a plan outlining how the tax increase would be allocated. The funds will be used for various purposes, including investing in full-time employees to reduce class sizes, increasing teacher pay, implementing a mentor program for educators, providing resources for special education, modernizing facilities and technologies, covering maintenance costs for buildings, and contributing towards the construction of a new high school in Saratoga Springs.
Prior to the approval of the tax hike, the board of education heard from over two dozen citizens during a public comment period. The meeting lasted over an hour, with residents expressing their opinions passionately. While the majority of comments were in opposition to paying more in property taxes, there were some who supported the increase.
One resident, Alicia Alba from Lindon, expressed disappointment about the tax hike and suggested that a three-way split of the district may be necessary due to financial challenges. On the other hand, Michele Sorensen from Orem spoke in support of the increase, highlighting the need for more teacher funding to reduce class sizes.
Not all residents were pleased with the decision, with some like Sean Barry from Pleasant Grove strongly disagreeing with the proposed increase. He questioned the board members about their personal incomes, suggesting that better financial management could eliminate the need for a tax hike.
The tax increase comes at a time when the potential split of the district via multiple interlocal agreements is set to be voted on by residents in November. Rich Stowell, ASD’s director of communications, clarified that regardless of the outcome of the vote, the tax increase will remain in effect. The board’s decision to increase taxes was made to ensure financial sustainability in the near and long term.
In conclusion, the property tax increase approved by the Alpine School District will have an impact on residents within the district. While some support the decision as necessary for improving education quality, others are concerned about the financial burden it places on homeowners. The upcoming vote on the district split will further shape the future of education in the area.
