Yes, many motions were made and failed. Yes, frustrations ran high and many struggled to understand how they can pay a higher property tax rate with the county walking away with less money. In the end, Wednesday’s special Uintah County Commission meeting accomplished, after three grueling hours, what it set out to accomplish: the approval of a tax rate before the State Tax Commission takes over the matter following the
June 22nd
deadline. As the Chairman, Commissioner Bill Stringer can not make or second motions and near the end it appeared that Commissioner Brad Horrocks and Commissioner Duane Shepherd were at an impasse, Shepherd moving to accept the recommended certified tax rate and Horrocks insisting there be no increase from what taxpayers paid last year. Negotiations opened up when Commissioner Shepherd made a motion for a tax rate of .00345 which is between last year’s rate and the certified tax rate proposed by the state. The certified tax rate would raise property taxes by $11 dollars per $100,000 dollars in home value and for businesses it would be $19 dollars per $100,000 dollars in value. The lower rate proposed by Shepherd lowers that to approximately $3.75 per $100,000 dollar home value and for businesses approximately $5 dollars per $100,000 dollars in value. Clerk Auditor Mike Wilkins made it clear that this lower rate decreases the revenue to Uintah County by $600,000 dollars because home valuations have dropped. Shepherd’s initial motion with the lower rate failed but after further discussion, Commissioner Horrocks repeated the motion. It was seconded by Shepherd and passed unanimously. Commissioner Horrocks stated that he did not agree with it but that this rate was better than if things were turned over to the state and the certified tax rate was adopted as a result.
