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Show TheSalt Lake Tribune ‘ UTAH Monday, November 26, 2001 Farmington Farmer Fights to Keep ‘Greenbelt’ Property-Tax Break Since her election three years ago, BY RENEE TURNER an additional full-timeposition was SPECIALTO THE TRIBUNE added toher staff, allowing appraisers = more timeto dotheir jobs. “Propertytaxes should be fair and equitable throughout the county,” Buckleysays. “Weare required to audit property values every five. years, and those that are not in compliance with greenbelt requirements are removed fromit.” : DennyLytle, deputy director of propertytax with the state Tax Commission, supports Buckley’sefforts to reassess property. eo He said the Tax Commission suggested Buckley's predecessor: audit the FARMINGTON — Whenis farmland no longerfarmland? That is a question countyassessors face everyyear. They must decideifan open property should be taxed atfair marketvalueorifit can retain special “greenbelt” status, which gives a tax breakon landused for raising crops or livestock. The law is designed to prevent owners of agricultural land from hav- ingto sell their operation to pay propertytaxes as land valuesrise. Losing greenbelt status, as outlined greenbelt properties in Davis County in the Farmland Assessment Act of 1969, meansthatrollback taxes must be paid for the past five years at mar- ket value. Ralph Wilcoxis fighting to retain the greenbelt designation on 30 acres he owns in Farmington, which is sur- rounded by encroaching development. Heclaimsthe landfalls under provisions of the greenbelt law becauseit is used to store farming equipment used to cultivate hay on 60 acres he owns nearby in Davi County. The county@ss . however, now says the 30 acres in Farmingtondo not qualify for greenbelt status, whichrequires the landto produce at least 50 Al Hartmann/TheSalt Lake Tribune Ralph Wilcoxsits on “Easter Rock,” a large boulder behindhis family homein the foothills of Farmington. His property tax on 30 acres jumped dramatically when the county assessor removedthe land's agricultural status. borrow$16,000 to meet the tax bill, which he paid underprotest. He is pealing the decision to the Davis Connty Commission, which acts percent of what similar land in the as a board of equalization in tax disputes. area would produce, The change in designation in April 2000 meant Wilcox hadto pay the five-year rollback “Weareoneofthelast farmsin the area to cu,.tinue farming and not subdivide ovr landorsell out to develop- tax. Before the newassessment, Wil- ers,” Wilcox said at a hearing last cox said, he paid about $39 in taxes a year. After the assessment, that jumped to $3,000 for 2000 and more month before the board, whichhas yet than$14,000 in rollback taxes based on market value. -Wilcox said he hadto becauseoffamilyhistory. tom ake a decision. He saidthe sting of the situation is made worse for him His grandfather, James Henry growfruit trees onit, but theydied off for lackfor water,” said Wilcox. as thefirst mayor of Farmingtonafter its incorporation in 1892. The 30-acre Farmington parcel, ac- Carol Buckley, the Wilcox property is oneof2,500 greenbelt propertiesin the According Wasatch Front @ Continued from B-1 to 128 accidents onthe state's highways Sunday, said Kramer, who called the majority “pretty minor.” However, a UHP trooper was rocky, drysection that really can’t be used for anything except storing veloped, with many residents working in neighboring Salt Lake County. Buckley says the re-evaluation of the properties was necessary to bring equipment. At onetime, wetried to assessmentsupto date. changethestatus of his property.” “Like almost everyotherfarm that was oncein the area, we havea steep, said Kimball Hansen, spokesmanfor Utah Power. “Our guys are out there hustling,” he said. Frigid weatherdid not seem to keep shoppers away from” their holiday duties. “We got tired of shoveling, so we wentto the mall,” said Chris Gay, who was shopping for Christmas presents at Crossroads Mall in downtown His’ injuries were not lifethreatening, Kramer said. Traffic at Salt Lake City International Airport — where nearly 10 inches of snow fell Sunday — flowed smoothly as crews worked nonstop clearing runways and deicing added. Allisan Lindblom, a college student from sunny San Diego, Power rf power lines. throughout the Wasatch Front. About 5,000 customers from state 80 around 5800 West as he was attemptingto directtraffic around a_ two-car fender bender. Utah the land or makes physical improvementsto the property. “The lawis clear,” Durbanotold commissioners in their capacity as the board of equalization. “If Mr. Wilcox hasnotfiled a plat for subdividing or made physical improvements to the property suchasutilities or roads, the property may not be removed from greenbelt. He has done nothing to since 1969 whenit was granted green- belt status. So there is no reason for a changein status now. Ogden to Sandy were still without power late Sunday, by a car on eastbound. Inter- Bradshaw, airport operations Assessor office. Buckley said she did not know how many properties retained the status in the county, which is one of Utah's smallest but most heavily de- crews kept busy battling the élements as tl.ey responded to numerous reports of downed hospitalized after being struck planes, according to Ralph County TASe SI IRR Blast Wallops to county audited in 1999 and 2000 by her cording to Wilcox, has not changed G Arctic manager. Meanwhile, Wilcox, bought110 acres in the 1880s and atvarious times, served as county clerk, recorder,assessor, attorney and after the state conducted a routine surveythree years ago comparing tax notice values and actual sales prices, Tt showed muchofthe vacantlandin the county was undervalued for tax purposes. Whendevelopable groundis undervalued and undertaxed, says Lytle, the tax burden is shifted unfairlyto other taxpayersin the county. Wilcox’s lawyer, Douglas Durbano of Layton, says the fair-market value calculation is necessary to place on record for use if the property is ever developed.It should not result in the property losing its greenbelt status until the ownerfiles a plat to develop Salt Lake City. “Weare trying to stimulate the economy,” he passed part of a five-hourairport layover in snowy Temple Square, “It's beautiful,” she said of the thick frost clinging to the branches of trees. “But right now I'm just about snowed EVERYWHERELINE® PLANS FROM $59.94/M0o. out.” keantera@sltrib.com Everywhere Line with 1200 Wireless Minutes a (for 1 Wireless phone) Holiday Gift Ideas & Accessories => aoe e ' Home phoneline with tons of great features 1200 Wireless minutes (200 weekday/1000 weekend) Domestic Wireless long distance included at no extra charge One numberservice $59.94 /mo. 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