Ogden school officials OK tax hike to bolster teacher pay
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- Thomas White, left, addresses the Ogden school board at a hearing Thursday, Aug. 18, 2022, on a proposed tax hike in the district.
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- Wendy Van Dyke, left, addresses the Ogden school board at a hearing Thursday, Aug. 18, 2022, on a proposed tax hike in the district.
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- Thomas White, center, addresses the Ogden school board at a hearing Thursday, Aug. 18, 2022, on a proposed tax hike in the district.
OGDEN — The hearing on the Ogden School District‘s proposed property tax hike generated split sentiments from the public, some favoring the increase because of the boost in pay teachers will get, others leery of the timing with rising prices brought on by inflation.
In the end, the school board unanimously approved the hike after getting feedback from the public Thursday evening. The increase will bolster property tax collections controlled by Ogden school officials for fiscal year 2023 by 13.3%, from the $38.91 million the district would otherwise be able to collect to $44.07 million, according to figures from the Weber County Clerk/Auditor’s Office. Property owners also pay school taxes controlled by state officials, not included in the $38.91 million and $44.07 million figures.
The district needs “the best of the best teachers,” Jennifer Zundel, president of the Ogden school board, said after the vote. “It is a difficult job and we need to be able to be competitive with our neighbors when it comes to teacher pay,” she went on, or experienced employees will leave for higher pay elsewhere.
For the owner of a home worth $410,000, the median value in Ogden, that means an increase in his or her property tax bill — just the part controlled by Ogden school officials — to $1,184, up $139 from $1,045. The overall school tax bill, also factoring the part controlled by the state, would rise to $1,586 from $1,447.
The city of Ogden earlier this month boosted its taxes as well, so Ogden School District property owners will see an increase in city property taxes, on top of school district taxes.
Of the $5.16 million in new taxes for the school district brought on by the hike, $3.48 million will be used to bolster pay of teachers, said Zane Woolstenhulme, the business administrator for the district. The 2023 budget calls for a cost-of-living pay hike for Ogden teachers of 5.5%, increased longevity incentives and “more competitive” activity stipends for administrators. The other $1.68 million would go into a fund for capital expenses.
Similarly, Weber School District officials earlier this month approved a tax hike, also to help bolster teacher pay. The Weber School District does not cover the city of Ogden, so that boost won’t impact Ogden property owners.
During the public hearing portion of Thursday’s meeting, Ogden school officials heard from around 10 people, several, including some district teachers, expressing support for boosting taxes.
“I think $12 is a bargain each month to retain quality teachers,” said Sara Byrd, a district teacher who also has kids in the system, alluding to the rough monthly cost the tax hike will cost the owner of a median-valued home. Some teachers, she said, have left the district in years past seeking better pay elsewhere.
Sarah Goodsell, also a teacher in the district and parent of a child in the system, cited the extra care and attention one of her kids received, helping bolster his reading skills.
“We want the teachers to stay here,” she said. The district spends a lot in developing teachers, she said, and “we want them to stay where we have trained them.”
On the flip side, others expressed concern about the financial impact of the larger tax bill, particularly in light of inflation.
“My position is that in our current state of economics, it’s not feasible to raise taxes as high as you’re trying to do,” said Michael DeYoung. “In fact, I think it’s better to wait until there’s an appropriate time to raise taxes, and see if there aren’t other ways to generate the revenue that’s needed or take (funds) from some other place to pay the teachers that need increases in their salaries.”
Thomas White lamented that taxes seemingly keep going up and he also noted inflation, which makes it tougher for those on fixed incomes. Other resources, he said, should be tapped to boost teacher pay.
“Everything is going up except our income. Social Security isn’t going anywhere. Most of us on Social Security, you’re not getting any more than you did four, five years ago,” he said. “We have to suffer for it because we can’t afford to pay for it.”
Officials in Riverdale, Roy, South Ogden, Harrisville, North Ogden and the Weber Basin Water Conservancy District have also increased taxes. Officials from North View Fire District, which serves North Ogden, Pleasant View and Harrisville, will hold a hearing on a proposed hike by that entity on Tuesday.