Sanpete County proposes a 17% property tax increase, with a hearing Nov. 30

Sanpete County plans to raise its property tax rate above the certified rate for the 2027 tax year, and the county commission will hold a public hearing on the proposal at 6 p.m. Monday, Nov. 30, according to a notice signed by County Clerk Linda Christiansen and dated Oct. 23. ^[1]

If the proposed budget is approved, the county would collect about $965,000 more in property tax each year, a 17.11% increase over last year's budgeted property tax revenue, not counting new growth, the notice says. ^[1]

For a homeowner, the county's share of the tax bill on a $440,000 residence would go from $414.55 to $486.04, an increase of $71.49 a year. On a business property valued at $440,000, it would go from $753.72 to $883.71, an increase of $129.99 a year. ^[1] The business figure is higher because Utah taxes a primary residence on 55% of its market value, while business property is taxed on its full value.

How to comment

The hearing will be in the Sanpete County Courthouse, 160 N. Main St., Suite 302, in Manti. Residents may take part in person or online, and the county says instructions for joining virtually will be posted at sanpetecountyutah.gov at least 24 hours before the hearing. Questions about the increase can go to the county at 435-835-2142, extension 8. ^[1]

The figures cover only the county's own levy. School districts, cities and special districts set their own rates, which also appear on a property owner's tax notice.

Why it matters now

Utah law requires a taxing entity to advertise and hold a hearing before it adopts a rate higher than the certified rate, which is the rate that would bring in the same property tax revenue as the year before, plus new growth. The hearing is the public's main chance to speak on the increase before the commission adopts its 2027 budget.

The hearing follows a separate tax question on the Nov. 3 ballot. Proposition 11 asked voters whether the county should add a sales tax of up to 1% for an E911 system and other health care and emergency services, and the commission held a public hearing on it Oct. 29. ^[3] In the unofficial count updated at 10:17 a.m. Nov. 5, the measure trailed with 4,773 votes, or 57.24%, against and 3,565, or 42.76%, for, with all 28 precincts counted. Results stay unofficial until the county canvass. ^[4]

The notice does not say what the added revenue would pay for. It says the hearing is held to take comments and to explain the reasons for the proposed increase. ^[1]