Show Utah Foundation Reports i i f Property eq equalization essential for school aid equity Equalization of property assessments is essential if Utah is ever to achieve any semblance semblance sem sem- sem- sem semblance blance o of e equi aid ft ty f Its scho school aid was programs This w was s th the con conclusion elusion reached by Utah Foundation the private tax research organization in its latest study of Utah's reappraisal reappraisal reappraisal reap reap- program Last year average assessment ratios for the various counties ranged from froin percent to 2028 percent with the overall statewide average amounting to 13 1398 98 percent The ratio determined for Uintah County was 1397 perc percent nt ACCORDING to the Foundation Foundation Foun Foun- da dation tion report Utah presently distributes more than million in state operation funds to local school districts through a complicated formula involving involving involving in in- in- in weighted pupil units and the relative wealth of local districts as measured by assessed valuation School districts located in counties that are assessed at a than higher average ratio to true value tend to contribute more in local taxes and receive proportionately proportionately proportionately less in state aid than do districts which are located in counties that are assessed at than lower-than-average ratios In analyzing the inequities among the various school districts caused by assessment variations the Utah Foundation study shows that Uintah School District contributed d more than its fair share of local taxes toward the c cost t of the basic program and consequently consequently consequently con con- received that much less than its II fair share of state aid for school purposes this year THROUGHOUT the state 24 school districts are contributing more in local taxes and receiving that much less in instate instate instate state aid than would be the case if there was absolute assessment uniformity Sixteen of the school districts on the theother theother theother other hand contrib contribute te less in local taxes and receive that much more in state aid as a result of these assessment disparities Foundation analysts emphasize emphasize em that Utah's property revaluation program has done much to reduce property inequities among individual properties and property classes within the same county Inflation Inflation In In- nation and rapidly changing property properly values however have made it difficult to achieve and maintain equity and balance among the counties As a result the assessment disparity among the he counties is as great today as it was seven years ago when the present revaluation program was begun TO OVERCOME this problem and to keep all counties at moreo or J same a SA n. n l Y Tax Commission has nas as proposed that annual adjustments in assessments should be made Inthe in inthe inthe the years between actual physical appraisals This suggestion was also made in a special study completed in November 1976 for the education committee of the Utah Legislature The report submitted stated that until the assessment rate disparity is corrected the principle of fiscal neutrality the heart of school finance equalization can never become a reality in Utah The Foundation report observed observed observed ob ob- ob- ob served that by the end of 1976 property revaluation for tax purposes had been completed in 25 of Utah's 29 counties Work in inthe inthe inthe the remaining four counties Carbon Dalt Lake Sanpete and Sevier will be finished this year and the new valuations are expected to go on the 1978 assessment rolls DESPITE TilE THE fact that the first round of revaluations will take lake about eight years to complete it is expected that subsequent reappraisals should be completed within the five- five year cycle prescribed by law Most of the delays in the first round of revaluations are the result of problems in getting the program started Utah Foundation points out that present Utah law provides that there should be a deduction from rom state aid for school purposes purposes purposes pur pur- poses whenever the valuation of the local district is less than the standard ratio of local assessment as prescribed by law This provision however has never been enforced If it had been applied approximately approximately approximately ap ap- ap- ap proximately 59 million would be deducted from the state aid distributions which are being made to local districts during the 77 1976 school year If IC this provision of Utah had been applied approximately would have been deducted from the state aid going to the Uintah School District during the 66 1976 school year according to Utah Foundation calculations |