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Show Totfsail property flcnr declines m Vernal Icustf yeor Total Property taxes charged for ci-, ci-, county, school, and other purposes i' Vernal last year declined by 5.66 lills, according to an analysis repared by Utah Foundation, the rivate tax research organization. Vernal's overall property tax rate in 979 is 63.83 mills ($63.83 per $1,000 ssessed valuation). This compares -ith a total levy of 69.49 for 1978. 'ollowing is a tabulation showing the rend in Vernal total tax rate for elected years since 1950: 'ear Total Mill Rate 950 58.00 960 72.50 970 79.37 975 65.12 978 69.49 979 63.83 According to the Foundation report, pproxiniately 63.5 of the total pro-erty pro-erty taxes charged in Vernal last year rill go for school purposes, 5.1 will go or municipal purposes, 25.5 for coun-y coun-y purposes, and 5.9 for special listrict purposes. A comparison of 1978 nd 1979 levies in Vernal by purpose is s follows: urpose 1978 1979 funicipal 3.50 3.24 Ichools 46.57 40.57 t'ounty 15.90 16.28 pecial (istrict 3.52 3.74 'OTAL 69.49 63.83 The Foundation study points out that larbon, Sanpete, and Sevier counties 'ere reappraised last year under the tatewide reappraisal program. This rogram was designed to equalize pro-erty pro-erty assessments among individual roperties and among the several coun-es. coun-es. The first round of reappraisals nder this program now has been com-leted com-leted in all 29 Utah counties and the se-Dnd se-Dnd cycle of the program will begin in J80. Although mill rates were substantial-i substantial-i reduced by all jurisdictions in Car-on, Car-on, Sanpete, and Sevier counties, the igher valuations resulting from the appraisal program generally more an offset the levy reductions for the ajority of taxpayers. Most taxpayers 1 these three counties, therefore, will Iperience.a tax increase. The Foundation analysis of the 26 iunties that were not reappraised last ar shows that the county-imposed tax le was raised in 12 counties, was duced in 11 counties, and remained ichanged in 3 counties. A total of 193 ties and towns are located in the 26 'iunties that were not affected by the operty reappraisal program in 1979. f these municipalities, 55 increased eir levies, 27 reduced their levies, and 1 made no change. Of the 36 school districts located in e 26 counties not reappraised last ;ar, 31 lowered their levies, and 5 ade no change. The major factor in generally lower school levies was a ur-mill reduction in the required isic school levy authorized by the 1979 tah Legislature. The actual overall erage levy reduction in these 36 :hool districts was 2.99 mills. An examination of the total tax rates iposed in the 62 largest Utah cities lat were not reappraised last year reveals that the overall rate increased in 16 cities, declined in 45 cities, and remained re-mained unchanged in one city. The average overall levy in these 62 cities 'was reduced by 1.68 mills from 74.70 mills ($74.70 per $1000 assessed valuation) valua-tion) in 1978 to 73.02 in 1979. This reduction reduc-tion in the average overall levy was well below the four-mill general reduction reduc-tion provided by the 1979 legislature. 1 Foundation analysts point out that legislation enacted last year has tended to moderate local property tax increases. in-creases. In addition to being limited by overall levy maximums, local units now must justify the mill rate imposed by reference to its approved budget and the latest assessed valuation data. This change should help prevent excess tax collections resulting from a higher-than anticipated assessment base. Since 1979 the average overall property pro-perty tax rate in Utah has been reduced by approximately 18.21 mills. This reduction in the overall tax rate over the past nine years, however, was in most instances more than offset by increases in-creases in assessed valuation during the period. Between 1972 and 1979, local real estate and improvements were reappraised in all 29 Utah counties. |