Ogden residents offer mixed sentiments on spending plan, tax hike proposal
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- Sebastian Benitez addresses the Ogden City Council on Tuesday, July 12, 2022, during a public hearing on the proposed 2023 spending plan, which contains a tax hike proposal.
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- Kyra Hudson, left, addresses the Ogden City Council on Tuesday, July 12, 2022, during a public hearing on the proposed 2023 spending plan, which contains a tax hike proposal.
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- The Ogden City Council is pictured at the body’s Tuesday, July 12, 2022, meeting, when a public hearing was held on the 2023 budget proposal, which would require a tax hike. From left are Ken Richey, Richard Hyer, Ben Nadolski, Luis Lopez, Bart Blair, Marcia White and Angela Choberka.
OGDEN — The people have offered their initial thoughts on Ogden’s proposed property tax increase and sentiments are mixed.
The Ogden City Council on Tuesday held the first of two planned public hearings on the proposed fiscal year 2023 budget plan, which calls for an 18.83% hike in property taxes. That would boost property tax collections to $19.3 million, up from $15.8 million for 2022 and the $16.3 million the city would be able to collect for 2023 without a tax hike, factoring new property tax revenue brought on by growth.
In all, 29 people spoke during the public hearing, 15 expressing support for the tax hike plan — meant to generate extra revenue to boost city workers’ wages — and six voicing reservations. Of the 15 voicing support, 12 were city employees who potentially stand to receive pay hikes or labor reps of city employees.
Alex Sanders, one of the city employees and president of Professional Firefighters of Utah Local 552, which represents Ogden firefighters, said the city is now losing qualified workers leaving to seek higher pay elsewhere. He spoke in favor of the pay hikes, saying boosting the wages of firefighters would encourage them to stay put, helping assure qualified paramedic and firefighting service in Ogden.
“This budget proposal not only benefits the employees of the city, but also it benefits the citizens of the city. Should this go through, it’s a win-win,” Sanders said. The budget calls for a 14% hike in firefighters’ pay, an 8% boost for police and a 13% raise for other city employees, including elected officials.
On the flip side, Ogden resident Kyra Hudson said rising taxes makes it tough for homeowners. “I cannot afford to pay my property tax here in Ogden anymore,” she said. “I don’t begrudge anyone a good salary. But it can’t be on the backs of Ogden city residents that don’t make that kind of money.”
Two others expressed support for boosting the pay of lower- and mid-range city employees, though not higher-paid workers. Another speaker voiced support for the same raise, in dollar terms, for all workers, thus giving lower-paid workers a bigger percentage boost relative to higher-paid workers. Five others didn’t clearly articulate a position or spoke on other matters.
City Council members listened to the input, which lasted about an hour and 20 minutes, but took no action. Another public hearing — the formal truth-in-taxation hearing required by state law to boost taxes — is set for Aug. 2 at 6 p.m. at the Ogden Municipal building, 2549 Washington Blvd., same place as Tuesday’s hearing.
City Council Chairperson Ben Nadolski said the feedback Tuesday reflects a lot of the input council members have already received. Mayor Mike Caldwell formally presented the $267.2 million spending plan containing the tax hike proposal to the City Council on May 3 and it’s been the focus of numerous meetings, work sessions and more.
“It is great to get the input. It is great to hear the thoughts and the feelings of our residents and then have time to mull that over and think about it and assess that information,” said Councilperson Bart Blair.
Tax hike proposals can be lightning-rod issues because of the resulting hike in funds the public has to pay to government. Nine other taxing entities are considering tax hike proposals for 2023, including the Ogden and Weber school districts, North View Fire District, the Weber Basin Water Conservancy District and the cities of Harrisville, North Ogden, Riverdale, Roy and South Ogden.
The Ogden increase, if approved, would raise city property taxes on a home worth $410,000, the median value, by $82.53, from $437.47 to $520. City property taxes are just one portion of property owners’ overall tax bills, which also include property taxes owed to school districts, Weber County and more.
Here are some of the comments of others who spoke Tuesday:
Sebastian Benitez: “I support the budget. I agree we need to pay workers better.”
Zach Nold, an Ogden police detective: “This raise is more than just a new truck,” he said. Rather, in his case, it would reduce the need to work overtime, allowing him to be at home more, and it would help in his and his wife’s efforts to cover the considerable fees required to adopt a child.
John Thomas, vice president of the Weber Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 1, which represents most Ogden police officers: Whatever the City Council decides, not everyone will be happy, he said, but he spoke in favor of a hike, suggesting the pay police receive now isn’t commensurate with the quality of service they’re providing.
Ogden residents “have Ferrari service, but they’re paying Volkswagen fees,” he said. “You got some of the best men and women for this city to keep it up and running.”
Paul Hoekstra: He warned of the possibility of a recession and the impact an economic downturn could have on the city’s ability to cover the cost of higher wages, if the budget is approved as is.
“If that hits us, I’m curious to know how the city is going to handle a terrific reduction in ability to handle the kind of pay you’re putting out. It’s going to hit everybody,” he said. “I don’t hear anything about what we are planning to do in the event that we have a serious recession.”
Joseph Bauman: He suggested that officials implement a flat dollar-amount raise for city workers instead of a percent increase, which would have a bigger impact on higher-wage earners.
“That way a corporal will see the same type of pay increase per dollar on their paycheck versus the captain of the police department,” he said.
Taylor Knuth: Wages in Ogden “are quite honestly pitiful.”
Lorraine Brown: She warned that if taxes are boosted by too much, some could leave the city.
“This is not a question of whether to support our officers or not. I think we’re all supportive of that and feel they should be appropriately compensated for what they do,” she said. “But it’s a question of how much and who.”
