One of the Wasatch Front's most fiscally conservative cities has agreed to raise property taxes by 34 percent annually - but a tax watchdog group thinks the city's recent budget poll was skewed.
Politicos think they've gotten the green light to collect more money from city residents, about $25 more annually on a $75,000 home, if they use the money to hire more police officers. But Howard Stephenson, of the Utah Taxpayers Association, who issued a tax alert on the budget increase, thinks the results of the poll are being manipulated.City officials are using a Dan Jones poll, for which they paid $8,400, to show that residents would support increased taxes this year for improved police protection.
A tax hike is big news in West Valley City, the state's second largest city, just because residents have never experienced one in their short decade of history. But police protection has been a hot issue that influenced council races last fall. So, in this budget year, the council has agreed to raise taxes in order to hire 12 police officers, three firefighters and an animal control officer, at a cost of $750,000.
According to preliminary results of the poll that was conducted April 27-May 2, 58 percent of the 600 respondents questioned said they "definitely" or "probably" think that West Valley City needs to hire more police officers.
Respondents who answered "yes" to that question were asked: "Would you be willing to pay higher taxes in order to have more police officers?" Seventy-nine percent of those who were asked that question said they definitely or probably would.
Stephenson said only 374 of the poll's 600 respondents were actually asked if they were willing to pay more taxes to hire more police officers. "The City Council realized that that question had been manipulated, but they're still quoting the 79 percent. And it's not 79 percent. Only 45.8 percent (of respondents) support a tax increase."
Concerning other city services such as building more parks or hiring more firefighters, all 600 of the poll respondents were asked whether they would pay more taxes for increased services, Stephenson said.
But City Manager John Newman said Stephenson is just twisting the issue. At the city's budget hearing last month, although Stephenson urged politicians to be cautious, he didn't urge the council not to support the increase proposal, Newman said.
"He just wants to make something out of nothing. The man is not very cognizant of polls and how they are conducted. Dan (Jones) felt he could get better information by asking it that way.
"If a person has already told you that they don't think you need more police officers, they are never going to say: `I'm willing to pay for them.' "
Mayor Brent Anderson said he has heard only one complaint about the city's budget. At the city's hearing, only five people showed up. And of the three that spoke, no one opposed the increase.
Anderson believes the poll confirms that residents are willing to pay more taxes, but only if the money is used to hire additional police protection.
West Valley budget forecasters say through economizing and increased revenues, the 1990-91 budget plan includes adding 21 employees to the city's payroll. That's in addition to the 16 public safety positions added through the tax increase.
*****
(Additional information)
Tentative 3.3% budget increase
The West Valley City Council has adopted a $21.8 million 1990-91 tentative general fund budget. That is a $700,000, or 3.3 percent, increase over last year's $21.1 million general budget and includes an annual property tax increase of about $24.44 on a home valued at $75,000. That translates to a 33.8 percent increase in annual property taxes.
Residents can comment on the tax increase during a public hearing at 6 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 2, at City Hall, 3600 Constitution Blvd.