There is probably some merit to reappraising property regularly so it truly reflects the current market value of that property, but there certainly is not any justification to raise taxes proportionately. In our neighborhood in particular there are a number of people who have paid for their homes and are on small fixed incomes who would be severely harmed if property taxes were to be increased by the amount market values have gone up since they built their homes. Property values have gone up 30 percent since we bought this home in 1988, but we certainly could not afford an increase in property tax of 30 percent. Certainly we could sell our home for that much more, but we would have to spend 30 percent more to buy any other property. We should not be forced to do so.
The revenue from property taxes is determined both by the mill levy and the property value. The Legislature should pass a law requiring that the mill levy is dropped as much or nearly as much as property values in the governmental unit assessing them has gone up. Governments seldom fail to spend any windfall in revenues that they receive.Government should not profit from inflation because inflation seldom benefits the average citizen. Governmental units should never be given a windfall. They should have additional revenues only after extensive hearings in which they justify every additional penny they ask for.
A. Spencer Hill
Salt Lake City
Editor's note: The state "truth-in-taxation" law already requires local governments to reduce tax rates in proportion to increases in property values. However, the Legislature does not apply this law to itself when setting the Uniform School Fund.