Pointing to inflation as the main culprit, the city council voted last month to raise property taxes to help maintain police, fire and other emergency services. “[It is] meant to help cover the increasing costs of equipment, vehicles and staffing as prices go up over time,” the city’s website says. “In Utah, there is no built-in mechanism for annual inflation adjustments in property taxes, so taxing entities, such as the city, often need to make adjustments to maintain their purchasing power.” 

Preceding the Aug. 13 vote, residents were invited to submit feedback online, contact their council member directly or voice their concerns at the two public hearings held before the city council meeting.

Only approximately 10 people attended both hearings and only one resident ventured to speak, voicing his opposition. “Do you ever look at the age of the people who live here in Herriman? My salary's not gonna go up anymore. I’m… concerned about that,” Mike Jensen said. He also suggested that Herriman leave Salt Lake County to avoid paying so much in property taxes in general.

“We take every tax increase seriously. Growth will pay for growth, but we need to adjust to pay for inflation,” Councilman Teddy Hodges said in response. 

Herriman resident McKenna Ence offers support for the increase. “Every time we see an ambulance, I tell my kids - help is on the way! And then I tell them how lucky we are to live where we do,” she said. “More taxes never sound fun. But I will always and forever willingly give my dollar and gratitude to those who dedicate their lives to protecting my family and me.”

The increase, which will take effect next year, is only the second in the city’s history since its incorporation in 1999. The first time Herriman raised its property taxes was in 2023. 

As costs continue to rise, some taxpayers may expect the city to tighten its belt like everyone else. “Herriman City has made consistent and frequent efforts over the last several years to trim its finances… Costs have been cut where available…,” the city’s website says.

“We don’t come to the residents unless it's absolutely necessary,” Mayor Lorin Palmer said. “Costs have escalated, and this is the only way.”

Across Utah, 59 school districts, cities and other taxing entities held public hearings last month concerning proposed property tax increases.

An upside to Herriman’s explosive growth is an increase in property tax revenue. But as the city must also provide more, it is concerned about making ends meet in the future without reducing services. The city says that without appropriate tax revenue increases, residents may eventually see longer emergency personnel response times and fewer police investigations. 

“When there’s new growth, the new homes are taxed at the same rate as existing homes, so revenue increases alongside the growth,” the city’s website says. “However, [sometimes] a taxing entity needs more revenue than population growth alone is providing (such as for inflation)... Costs for materials, supplies, vehicles and personnel [continue] to rise, so a revenue adjustment is crucial to maintain a quality level of service.”

Including Jordan School District, Salt Lake County, the Jordan Basin Improvement District and the Jordan Valley and Central Utah Water Conservancy Districts, Herriman residents pay property taxes to 16 separate taxing entities.

The city council manages three of these entities: Herriman City, which funds various city services and accounts for 1.7% of tax bills; the Herriman City Safety Enforcement Area, which funds the police and accounts for 13.3%; and the Herriman City Fire Service Area, which funds emergency medical and fire services and accounts for another 12.5%. 

The approved increase will raise taxes only for the HCFSA and the HCSEA, by 1.7% and 5.3%, respectively, resulting in the average homeowner paying an additional $8 to the HCFSA and an additional $25 to the HCSEA

The city designed the HCFSA increase to align with the increased cost from the Unified Fire Authority for 2025. “This is among the smallest increases we’ve seen from UFA, which is due in part to careful scrutiny of their own budget and their efforts to maximize funds as much as possible,” Herriman City Communications Manager Jonathan LaFollette said. “Technically, the HCFSA is the funding source, and UFA doesn’t charge that directly. They charge Herriman City in general, and the HCFSA transfers money to the city to pay for the UFA contract.”

Regardless of increasing or decreasing property values, the result of provisions in Utah state law is that the revenue collected by cities, school districts, counties and other entities does not change from one year to the next; residents pay roughly the same amount in property taxes each year. The state determines yearly tax rates using revenue goals and property information. With higher property values, tax rates fall, and when home values tumble, property tax rates rise, so the total revenue collected by the city remains unchanged. 

“For efficiency, taxes are paid to one central entity, the county,” Herriman’s website says. “The county then disburses the tax revenue to the various taxing authorities throughout the year based on their rates. Those taxing entities and their governing boards may then expend the money based on their approved budgets.”