A comment made during last week’s Uintah County Commission meeting has sparked a public response online. During the Public Hearing over the 2024 Budget, 6 citizens asked questions of the Commissioners and Clerk/Auditor, engaging in extensive discussion on the budget and proposed property tax increase. Of the one hour and twenty minutes of the public hearing, however, it’s an exchange between citizen Jeff Shoell and Commissioner Sonja Norton that is garnering significant attention on local social media circles. During his comments, Shoell emphasized that the proposed increase will be more than the 12 percent he had heard. Commissioner Norton stated that he is correct and that the proposed increase for Uintah County as a taxing entity is more.
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Shoell: “So that’s a significant increase.”
Norton: “It’s a 73.11 percent increase.”
Shoell: “For a homeowner.”
Norton: “Yes.”
Shoell: “Capitalizing on what was said before with Mr. Simper there…You know what that’s going to do to the revenue base? That means I and my family are not going out to eat as often. When we go to the grocery store instead of buying a full grocery cart full of food we’re going to put a few things back on the shelves which is going to diminish your sales tax. So you’re robbing Peter to pay Paul.”
Norton: “We don’t look at it that way because a lot of people will go find a second job or a part time job or something on the side to possibly make up the difference because they’ve also been hit by inflation.”
Commissioner Norton’s response has been criticized online as being out of touch with average struggling citizens. When contacted by Evans Family Media, Commissioner Norton stated that her comments weren’t very sensitive and what she meant was that everyone does what they need to do if the need arises. The entire meeting can be viewed on the Uintah County YouTube channel.
