Estimated read time: 3-4 minutes
- Davis County commissioners are considering a 55% property tax hike to help fund animal services and meet increasing demand.
- The proposed hike would generate $1.5 million more per year and cost the owner of an averaged-valued home around $13.
- Public opinion is divided, with supporters citing a need to augment shelter services as demand grows and foes leery of higher taxes.
FARMINGTON — A debate is coming to a head in Davis County over a proposed 55% property tax hike that would bolster services offered by the county-operated animal shelter.
Davis County commissioners held a public hearing this week on the proposal — which would generate an extra $1.5 million a year for Animal Care of Davis County operations. The county is slated to decide on the tax increase for all Davis County property owners, which is part of the proposed 2025 budget, on Tuesday.
The tax talk comes amid plans to build a new $16.5 million animal shelter adjacent to the existing facility in Fruit Heights to better manage the growing number of cats and dogs the facility handles. The money for the new shelter would come from county savings. Money generated by the tax hike — only applicable to the budget fund for animal care, not the rest of the county budget — would be used to increase staffing and service offerings.
"This will probably be the funding we need for the next 10-plus years," said County Commissioner Randy Elliott. "We'll have a new building, we'll do it properly, because it has been neglected."
Nevertheless, public opinion is split, as indicated by comments at last Tuesday's public hearing, with foes leery of more taxes and proponents worried current shelter offerings don't match the demand and need for services. Under the proposed hike, property taxes earmarked for animal care — the primary source of funding — would go from $2.64 million to $4.09 million, up around 55%. The tax bill on an average-valued home, $578,000, would go up by $12.87 to cover the hike, one element of the overall proposed budget for 2025 of $331.2 million.
Commissioner Lorene Kamalu said the proposed tax hike would be the first in Davis County since 2017 and estimates around half of those speaking last Tuesday favor the increase. The county held several open houses on the issue last month, she said, drawing small crowds.
"Good tax policy is to make any increase that is needed be small," Kamalu said.
Megan Smock, of Farmington, expressed support for the tax proposal at Tuesday's meeting and said animal shelter employees are overworked and don't get the appreciation they deserve. The Animal Care office serves all of Davis County. "They need way, way more support. This is way, way overdue," she said.
Another supporter who identified herself only as Karen said funding the animal shelter is about taking care of vulnerable animals, citing the example of abandoned pets.
"I think as a community, we need to take care of these animals," Karen said. "These animals are often abandoned. It's not because they're violent or anything like that — it's the owner."
The tax increase would help fund at least five new positions, including a veterinarian and a staffer tasked with assessing behavior of animals and crafting plans to handle and care for them. A new dispatcher would help handle the high volume of calls to the office.
Foes focused on the impact on taxpayers.
Jennifer Garner, of Layton, lamented, broadly, what she views as government "overspending" and while acknowledging the need for animal-control services, suggested additional funding could be generated through donations. "This could be funded by other ways, through fundraisers and things like that by people who are passionate," she said.
People who don't own pets shouldn't have to pay more taxes for animal control services, said Kevin Palmer, of Bountiful, echoing the sentiments of other speakers. "The burden should be shifted to the pet owners as licensing fees," he said.
Tuesday's meeting starts at 10 a.m. and will be held at the Davis County Commission chambers in the Davis County Administration Building, 61 S. Main in Farmington. The 2025 budget is one of many agenda items on the agenda.
