Prior to the vote, a standing-room-only crowd had amassed in the office’s board room, and the majority of those offering comments were opposed to the tax increase. Many were taken aback by the proposed maximum tax increase of 21.75% that appeared on the notices of property valuation and tax changes that were mailed to county residents earlier in the summer.

In the end, the board approved a tax increase of 5.64%, which is expected to yield roughly $9.7 million in additional funding for the district.

“By law, we have to have that information posted with the announcements that go out, and that (21.75%) was the maximum amount that could be taxed. So, when people see that … there’s some of that sticker shock,” Weber School District Public Information and Safety Officer Lane Findlay explained to the Standard-Examiner prior to the hearing.

In an effort to ease fears, the hearing opened with a presentation explaining the recommended tax increase, what necessitated it, the difference between individual tax increments and the tax rate residents will pay with their property taxes, district funding mechanisms and more. However, emotions nonetheless ran high at times during the public comment session, which saw attendees raise concerns about rising property values and taxes, fiscal responsibility, district official salaries, costs associated with recently built and/or renovated schools, and other issues.

Confusion abounded over the proposed net tax increase of four tax increments above the certified tax rate, to 18.2 tax increments — a unit distinct from percentages. One tax increment is equal to 0.0001 for any rate; last year, the board’s tax levy was 0.000646, while the voted levy was 0.000743, or 6.46 and 7.43 tax increments, respectively. Those levies, combined with the charter school rate of 0.000066, or 0.66 increments, equated to a combined tax increment of 14.55.

The updated board levy is 0.000844, or 8.44 tax increments, the updated voter levy is 0.000900 (9.0 tax increments) and the charter school rate is 0.000076 (0.76 increments); or 18.2 total tax increments. That incremental increase from the district, along with other taxes, equates to the 5.64% bump overall. For a home valued at the county average of $524,000, that equates to an additional $46.83 annually, or $3.90 per month.

In order to fully participate in the State Guarantee Program, which aims to equalize voted and local board property tax revenues statewide, a district must levy at least 20 increments between its voted and board tax rates. As it stands, a hold harmless provision is helping the district bridge that gap. However, the body will eventually find itself leaving money on the table if it remains below that mark.

“That’s really the goal, is that we set our local levies and rates that align with the state’s guidelines that guarantee us the maximum funding,” Findlay said.

Before board members cast their votes, Weber School District Superintendent Gina Butters noted that recent legislative changes have resulted in the district having to pay for required safety upgrades on the fly. House bills 40 and 84, in particular, call for additions including secure entryways and upgrades to doors and locks, fencing, panic devices, security film on windows and armed safety personnel at schools districtwide.

Findlay told the Standard-Examiner that the district was able to secure grant funds to help with these items, but they don’t come close to fully offsetting the associated costs. He further noted that building of new schools didn’t directly factor into the tax bump.

In 2021, a bond of more than $270 million was passed for the construction of West Field High School, Mountain View Junior High and Haven Bay Elementary, in addition to the rebuilding of Roosevelt Elementary. While those projects went over budget due to cost increases and inflation, a lease revenue bond was used in 2023 to complete the Roosevelt rebuild. Meanwhile, the debt service levy was reduced to offset the cost to taxpayers.

Still, several residents expressed dissatisfaction throughout the meeting with what they perceived to be the opulent nature of the district’s newer facilities and the costs associated with them.

“Why are we building big luxury schools? When we went to school, we had small, little schools that were built back in the ’50s and ’60s and we turned out fine,” said Allen Miller of Riverdale during the public comment session. “You guys need to start living within your budget and stop asking us for more money. As I look out over the crowd, the majority of these people are on fixed incomes. How do they keep increasing, increasing, increasing without losing their houses?”

Board members, meanwhile, maintained that they were advocating for the district’s students.

Said Butters: “I believe strongly, from my standpoint, from my perspective — as a school district, we believe it’s a moral imperative, we believe that it’s our job … to make sure that every one of our students has the support that they need to be successful.”