Letter to the Editor: Commercial property owners within Hurricane Valley Fire District could see 89% property tax hike

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OPINION — Hurricane Valley Fire District property owners are faced with a staggering 89.35% tax hike for 2023.

The tax on a $562,000 residence would increase from $223.48 to $423.15 or $199.67 per year.

The tax on a $562,000 business would increase from $406.33 to $769.37 which is $363.04 per year.

Hurricane Valley Fire claims an inflation rate of 21% since 2017. They claim that certain supplies such as bandages, IV drips, soap and protective gear have gone up in price. Even though these items have increased in price, typically Hurricane Valley Fire is reimbursed for these items in their EMS fees collected which was over $1.5 million dollars in 2021.

Hurricane Valley Fire added 21 full time employees in 2022 for a total of 38 full time employees. Payroll will exceed $5 million dollars in 2023. Salaries in 2016 were close to $1 million dollars. In 2016 the Hurricane Valley Fire district used mostly volunteers. Today there are very few volunteers.

Hurricane Valley Fire is proposing new equipment purchases of over 1 million dollars ($1,001,180) in their 2023 proposed budget.

Hurricane Valley Fire stated that it has borrowed $3,424,000 to cover this years’ expenses.

  • Does this mean that the have totally exceeded their budget for 2022?
  • Who gave them the authority to borrow this much money?
  • They have requested this 89.3% tax increase which they claim is to pay down this debt.
  • Is the Fire department being managed in a fiscally responsible manner?

The present Hurricane Valley Fire (.00723) tax rate is already higher than the tax rate in Washington City (.007081) and St. George (.007117).

Do the citizens of Hurricane, LaVerkin, Leeds, Toquerville and surrounding towns need to pay more for basic services than those residing in St. George and Washington City?

Hurricane Valley Fire should be able to provide comparable service at comparable rates to other cities in the area.

Hurricane Valley Fire had a similar tax increase effective in 2017 of 74%. A public meeting was held on Nov. 7, 2016. The Hurricane City Council chambers were overcrowded with many anxious city residents waiting outside the council chambers unable to provide input. The microphone was not working so residents had a hard time hearing the numerous complaints. The motion was tabled at this time and a new meeting was rescheduled for Dec. 5, 2016 at the Hurricane High School auditorium in a larger facility. The motion was passed unanimously by Fire Board members despite public protest.

Hurricane Valley Fire is supposedly governed by a six-person board. In the past this board has shown that they will rubber stamp whatever the Hurricane Valley Fire chief wants despite public opinion.

Hurricane Valley Fire and the Fire Board has created something that is not sustainable. They use citizens as pawns to increase their revenues. The more you feed this thing, the bigger it will get. Say “no” to this tax hike.

There will be a public hearing on Nov. 21 at 6:01 p.m. for public comment at the LaVerkin City council chambers located at 111 S. Main in LaVerkin. If you desire to speak at the hearing, you will need to email the Fire District at [email protected] by noon Nov. 21.

Attend the meeting and voice your opposition to this enormous tax hike.

Sources:

  • www.Hurricane ValleyFiressd.org
  • Notice of proposed tax increase (sent to property owners).
  • Tax Rates 2022 (obtained copy from county assessor’s office).
  • Notice of proposed tax increase Hurricane Valley Fire District.

Submitted by JAY CROSBY, Hurricane property owner.

Letters to the Editor are not the product of St. George News, its editors, staff or news contributors. The matters stated and opinions given are the responsibility of the person submitting them. They do not reflect the product or opinion of St. George News and are given only light edit for technical style and formatting.

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