ROY — The next big round of hearings and meetings on the many proposed tax hikes across Weber County looms.

Action — and bigger tax bills for homeowners and others — could be in the offing in the cities of Roy, North Ogden, Harrisville, Riverdale and South Ogden and within the Ogden School District. Officials from Ogden, the Weber School District and the Weber Basin Water Conservancy District have already approved tax hikes.

The varied tax hike proposals have prompted grumbling from many taxpayers across the county, worried about bigger tax bills amid rising inflation and worries about a possible recession. Here are the details of the upcoming meetings:

Roy: The Roy City Council is holding a truth-in-taxation hearing at 6 p.m. Tuesday at the Roy municipal building, 5051 S. 1900 West. City officials are weighing an increase of up to 15% in property taxes, which would boost collections for fiscal year 2023 from around $3.93 million in 2022 to around $4.6 million, excluding allowable increases for new growth.

Riverdale: The Riverdale City Council is holding a truth-in-taxation hearing at 6 p.m. Tuesday at the Riverdale Civic Center, 4600 S. Weber River Drive. City officials are mulling an increase of up to 94.8% in property taxes, boosting collections for 2023 to $1.54 million, up from the $791,846 the city would be allowed to collect without an increase.

South Ogden: The South Ogden City Council is scheduled to take action on its proposed 2023 spending plan at its regular meeting on Tuesday, which starts at 6 p.m. and will be at South Ogden City Hall, 3950 Adams Ave. City officials are considering a tax hike of 9%, boosting collections in 2023 to $4.18 million, up from the $3.83 million the city would otherwise be able to collect.

On Aug. 2, the City Council held a truth-in-taxation hearing, required by state law when an entity is mulling a tax hike above what’s allowed in state law to give the public a chance to sound off.

Harrisville: The Harrisville City Council is scheduled to take action on its proposed 2023 spending plan, which calls for a tax hike, at the body’s regular meeting on Tuesday, which starts at 7 p.m. and will be held at Harrisville City Hall. Harrisville leaders are proposing an increase of around 166% in taxes to $941,570, up from the $354,030 that would otherwise be allowable without boosting taxes.

The City Council held a truth-in-taxation hearing on Aug. 2, drawing a standing-room-only crowd.

North Ogden: The North Ogden City Council is scheduled to take action on its proposed 2023 spending plan and tax hike proposal at its meeting on Tuesday, which starts at 6 p.m. and will be held at the city building, 505 E. 2600 North. The latest proposal calls for a 24.5% boost in property taxes to $2.34 million, up from the $1.88 million or so the city would be able to collect without a tax hike.

The City Council held a truth-in-taxation hearing on Aug. 9, drawing comments from about 30 people, mostly critical of boosting taxes.

Ogden School District: Ogden school officials hold a truth-in-taxation hearing at 7 p.m. Thursday, part of its regular meeting that day, which starts with action on other items at 5:30 p.m. The school board is mulling a cumulative 13.3% tax increase in the four areas controlled by local school officials, boosting collections to $44.07 million, up from $38.91 million.

‘EXPECTING A FULL HOUSE’

The Roy tax hike would be used to higher more police and firefighters, according to Mayor Bob Dandoy. Both departments, he said, need more personnel.

He senses the City Council could scale back the proposed 15% tax hike, though trimming it would impact the number of new public safety employees that could be hired. Indeed, the issue has sparked conversation in Roy.

“I’m expecting a full house,” said Dandoy, alluding to the expected crowd at Tuesday’s meeting.

Harrisville Mayor Michelle Tait said the City Council met last Tuesday in a workshop to discuss the city’s proposed increase.

Officials probed the notion of scaling back the 166% tax hike, but took no action. “I just said, ‘Let’s discuss this, then you come back with an answer,'” Tait said. She’s no fan of boosting taxes but noted that the growing city needs more funds to better provide services.

Also on the agenda at Tuesday’s Harrisville City Council meeting is a measure calling for a special election in November on a proposal to issue $6 million in bonds to build a recreation facility. The bond, if the question makes it to the ballot and is approved by voters, would boost property taxes on a home valued at $320,000 by $105.66, separate from the property tax hike under consideration, according to city papers.

Zane Woolstenhulme, business administrator for the Ogden School District, said some of the school board members have received questions from the public on the proposed hike in the system. The main impetus for the increase is boosting pay for teachers.

The North View Fire District, which serves North Ogden, Pleasant View and Harrisville, is also proposing a property tax hike, focus of a truth-in-taxation hearing on Aug. 23.

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