Given the tax hikes that have hit Wasatch County taxpayers over the past several years, it may seem like a ridiculous decision to vote for Proposition 9, a ballot proposal that would tack on a 0.5% sales tax on many goods and services to help fund growth in fire department and emergency medical services.
Yet, as Wasatch County Fire District Chief Eric Hales put it, property owners would likely see fewer steep tax increases in the future if it passed Nov. 21.
Wasatch County is a relatively easy place to end up needing an ambulance. With injury-threatening recreation such as mountain biking, kayaking, hiking and rock climbing, accidents happen.
And when they do, according to Hales, they happen to visitors staying in the plethora of local hotels, resorts, campsites or rentals roughly 40% of the time.
“We have three incredible water recreation areas, plus we have all the national forest areas and state parks in our area,” Hales said. “We get a lot of traffic accidents on Highway 40 and Highway 189, and a lot of people as they’re passing through our county are impacting our services.”
Yet — no matter who needs emergency services — the cost is largely passed on to Wasatch County property owners, who contribute 80% of the fire district and other emergency services budgets.
Because more and more developments continue popping up throughout Wasatch County, the need for more fire and EMS services will likewise continue to grow, and such growth is only possible with increased funding, supporters say.
As things currently sit, that increased funding will continue to be provided by property owners in Wasatch County. If Proposition 9 passes, it will be dispersed not only among property tax payers, but also visitors, renters and everyone else who stops to spend their money in Wasatch County. According to Hales, this would reduce the need for increased taxes in the future.
While the tax would be imposed on things like recreational activities and eating at a restaurant, there are a few key items that would remain unaffected, needs rather than wants, like unprepared food, fuel and medication that would not be included in this tax.
“That’s what’s nice about this tax,” Hales said. “Those on fixed incomes, most of those people aren’t going out and having discretionary funds to make these additional purchases …. If we have to rely solely on property tax and we increase that, that’s a burden they’ll have to share. They’ll have a choice with this.”