Residents petition Hildale tax hike
 
BRIAN AHERN
BAHERN@THESPECTRUM.COM
The Spectrum
Jethro Barlow

Outraged at the Hildale Town Council's decision last month to hike property taxes by more than 237 percent, a group of residents is demanding the town reconsider.

Mike Pipkin is one of those residents and was eager to attach his name to a petition that has circulated throughout the town. It accuses the local government of discriminating against residents who choose to follow the law and pay their taxes.

"There are so many people who aren't paying their taxes," he said. "They're punishing the people who are."

For Pipkin, that "punishment" comes in the form of nearly $400 in additional taxes per year.

"Some people who have bigger homes would pay more than that," he said. "We're going to have to tighten our belts to pay the increase."

At last month's truth in taxation hearing on the matter, former Utah Lt. Gov. Val Oveson said more than 50 percent of Hildale's residents don't pay property taxes. Many of those delinquent in their taxes, he said, were defiant members of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

"Use your influence with the FLDS church to let people know they need to pay their property taxes," Oveson told the council. "It's unfair to raise the rates on those paying the additional amount."

City officials, however, argued that the tax hike was needed to keep the city afloat. Deep cuts had been made to the city's essential services, they said, and little more could be cut.

"We're in a situation that's tough on everybody," Mayor David Zitting told those at the meeting. "It's going to hurt a lot of people but I don't know what else to do about it."

Pipkin said that's simply not true.

"I believe they could cut back more on the fire department," he said. "And I also believe they could sub-contract some of their law enforcement out. Some other cities have done that."

Though they're protesting that hike through their petition, many residents still don't think they'll have a receptive ear on the town's council when it comes to repeal. The point, they said, is to have a say on what direction the town's additional revenue will take in the future.

"In some ways it's an exercise in futility," said resident Jethro Barlow. "It's a done deal and it's too late for any howling to make any difference unless it can guide some decisions that can be made in the future."

Those decisions, Barlow added, would center on what the town would do once it collects its delinquent tax revenue. A 237 percent tax hike, coupled with recouping past-due taxes, he said, would result in a huge financial windfall for the city.

"The big question now is - what's the town going to do once it's accustomed to having the money?" Barlow said.

When that happens, Barlow said, he'd like to see the money earned from the tax hike returned to the angry residents who will start paying a lot more in taxes starting in October.

"We'll want our money back and our rates cut," he said.

Town officials have yet to respond.
 
TheSpectrum.com
Originally published September 8, 2010
 
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