CACHE COUNTY – As soon as the statewide election on Nov. 3 is over, Cache County officials will turn their attention to completing state mandated requirements to finalize the county’s 2027 budget.
That process will include holding Truth-in- Taxations hearings on proposed 2027 property tax increases, according to a countywide letter from Executive George Daines that began arriving in local residents’ mailboxes on Oct. 23.
“The proposed county tax increases are modest,” Daines wrote, “and generally match the rate of inflation. Together, they represent a 3.73 percent increase.”
The tax increase notice enclosed with Daines’ letter lists increases for the county’s general fund and health accounts; the county’s fund for assessing and collecting; a slight increase in fees for mosquito abatement; and implementation of the new county Fire Protection District.
Mandatory public hearings to justify those tax increases will be held at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 12 for the mosquito abatement increase in the Conference Room of the Bear River Health Department; at 6 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 16 for the Fire Protection District in the Cache County Council Chambers; and at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 17 for the county property tax hikes in the Cache County Council Chambers.
Daines has promised to be available four hours prior to the county TNT hearings on Nov. 16 and 17 to answer questions from concerned citizens.
“I encourage you to participate knowledgably in this democratic process,” the executive wrote. “Please join us beginning at 2 p.m. to ask questions, learn more about the budget and then provide your comments at the Truth-in-Taxation hearings beginning at 6 p.m.”
The proposed 3.73 percent in property taxes is expected to yield new revenue of about $760,000 to fund increased costs for public health services as well as public safety personnel and equipment.
The proposed 35 percent increase in taxes for assessing and collecting is expected to generate $1.3 million in new revenue for those purposes.
Daines noted that this fund has not been increased in the past 17 years and that the proposed increase averaged over that period amounts to only 2 percent per year.
The tax increase for the Fire Protection District is a complex one-time change intended to reallocate the tax burdens for that service from municipal residents to county taxpayers in unincorporated areas by generating $4.2 million in new revenue.
The Bear River Health Department is located at 85 East, 1800 North in Logan.
The Cache County Council Chambers are located in the Cache County Historic Courthouse at m199 North Main Street in Logan.