The Carbon County Commissioners made a special announcement during their regularly scheduled commission meeting on Wednesday evening. This announcement was made during the consideration and possible issuance of a statement of intent for a proposed tax rate increase.
The commissioners announced that the amount and percentage has changed. Initially, the highest amount proposed was an increase of $1.6 million and a percent of 11.8%.
However, the amount has raised to $2.2 million and a percent of 16.34. This decision was made, according to Commission Chair Larry Jensen, from heavily gathering information over the last three days. This increase has been proposed to enable the county to continue providing existing services in light of decrease in mineral lease monies.
Commissioner Tony Martines read the statement that reflected this information, concluding by stating that Carbon County Clerk/Auditor Seth Marsing has been instructed to prepare a notice of the intended increase as well as the public hearings to be hosted.
This statement will be sent out no later than seven days prior to the election.
For some clarity, Commissioner Casey Hopes stated that this year, there was about $700,000 budgeted to fit in line with what is traditionally received. However, this year, the county received just over $80,000. Commissioner Hopes stated that, that is where some of the excess is coming from in regard to the original amount posted.
The amount, Commissioner Hopes continued, would put the county in the position to take care of some of the needs such as renewing the servers, purchasing equipment and vehicles for the road shops, sheriff’s office, ambulance and more.
Commissioner Tony Martines spoke on not having an open coal mine in Carbon County currently. While Skyline is in the county, the coal is being moved elsewhere. He also touched on a number of the gas companies leaving.
“We cannot rely on that anymore to fund our lifestyles,” Commissioner Martines stated. Commissioner Martines furthered his statements by stressing that this is not an overall tax increase for all, just those in unincorporated parts of the county.
Commissioner Jensen spoke on the mineral lease monies received in the past allowing the unincorporated areas to be taxed less. “I know nothing that has weighed on us more in the last few weeks than this,” Commissioner Jensen stressed.
To clarify, Commissioner Martines stated that for every $100,000 on a home, it is approximately a $10 increase per month. He stressed that residents should be focusing on the dollar, not the percent.
Commissioner Hopes then stated that they are working with private entities in the county to bring investment to grow local businesses and are trying to bring new businesses to the area. He touched on needing a significant amount of growth in business to offset the need for a tax raise.
“We are working as hard as we can on that effort as well to try and ease the burden on our citizens,” Commissioner Hopes stated.
The commissioners approved the issuance for a statement of intent for the proposed tax rate increase.