Willard: Citizens of Willard City are about to experience emptier pockets. As if paying 5 cents a gallon more at the pump wasn’t enough, or the Box Elder School District raising property taxes 8 %, or the fact that Box Elder County is also going to try to raise taxes for the roads, residents of Willard will now also have to contend with an increase in property taxes from the city. It is no small increase, it will be going up a whopping 60%!! Each tax increase from the other differing entities has been touted as being “small”, however for those paying the price it adds up to a hefty increase in most households expendable income. Some of those most concerned are the elderly who live on a limited income already and wonder how they will meet the ever increasing tax burden. When the numbers were crunched city officials state that it is at most $10 a month, however it is an extra $120 a year added to the additional increase with the School board tax increase and likely an increase by Box Elder County to fund municipal roads.
It must be noted however that despite the fact that the bottom line overall increase for taxes will be 8.5% for Willard citizens, the majority who attended the city meeting were in favor of the large 60% property tax increase of about 10 to 1.
Willard City officials have stated that this is a necessary increase since taxes have not been raised in twenty years. They either had to raise taxes “or make cuts”. However all this talk of shortfalls and needing to raise taxes raises one big question, if Willard really needs to raise taxes than why are they proposing purchasing an ambulance and adding to the strain on the cities budget? In the town minutes even Council Member Beebe had concerns, it states Council member Beebe asked where the seed money was coming from to start up the service. He stated he is not against it but with coming from a shortfall and raising taxes he feels they should put it on the back burner.
In fact the seed money is approx $35,000-$40,000 just for start up and that does not include the costs to maintain and run the ambulance. Mayor Braegger believes it is a good idea and could end up generating revenue for the city. However for this to happen Brigham City who now provides the service would have to supply a letter of support and an application would have to be put into the state. In the town minutes Chief Mund stated that there is a limited time to apply and it was voted on to proceed and try and obtain the letter of support and apply.
While the issue of more taxes is always concerning one of the main problems with increases taxes is increased government intrusion. More money means more officials working hard to justify the increase in taxes. So how high will taxes have to rise before citizens say enough? Time will tell but for now a 60% increase seems to a number many residents of Willard feel they can support.
Sentinel news has tried to reach Chief Mund on why the city needs it own ambulance, as of this publishing we have yet to receive a call back.
