Stop the Property Tax Hikes: We Have Better Options for Ivins

As your City Council candidate, I plead that we must reject this property tax increase. The issue is not the dollar amount each household might pay; the issue is determining whether this increase is needed at all. The facts suggest it is not. The city can manage its needs by budgeting smarter and fully utilizing existing revenues.

Here are the facts that support a "No Tax Increase" decision:

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1. Our Budgeting Has Outpaced Growth and Inflation

Before raising taxes, shouldn’t we examine how the city’s budget has grown relative to the factors driving that growth?

• Ivins' total budgeting has increased by 63% since 2019 (even without the proposed tax increase).

• During that same period, the combined increase for Inflation and Population Growth only totals 53%.

The city's property tax budget has grown faster than necessary to keep up with rising costs and new residents. This suggests an opportunity for better budget efficiency.

• If this tax increase is approved, the total property tax budget will be an estimated 116% higher than it was in 2019.

Source Check: Compare Ivins City's General Fund budgets from 2019 to the current proposed budget. Use U.S. Census data for Ivins population and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (CPI) for inflation.

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2. Our Neighbors Prioritize Holding the Line on Taxes

Is it worth looking to our neighbors for examples of long-term financial stability?

• St. George, our largest neighbor, has avoided a property tax rate increase for 38 years—since 1987. While they considered an adjustment in 2022, it did not pass. Although St. George did pass a G.O. Bond to fund specific projects, this was an approved measure voted on directly by the citizens, not a direct action by the City Council. If the largest city in the county can maintain its tax rate for nearly four decades, Should Ivins should explore all options before increasing ours?

Source Check: St. George City Council meeting minutes and news archives regarding their 2022-2023 budget.

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3. We Have Significant Existing Funds and Reserves

The city is financially strong and has multiple existing revenue streams that can be used before asking residents for more.

• Ivins holds over $4 million in General Fund reserves—our "savings account"—which is near the maximum amount the state allows us to keep. A portion of these funds could be allocated to meet immediate needs.

• The city has accumulated over $8 million surplus since 2019 by consistently budgeting for more than it spends. Furthermore, the city recently reported a cumulative surplus of $629,000 just for fiscal year 2025 across all budgetary categories. Is it possible we have sufficient funds?

• The city admits they made a budgeting error by expecting more revenue from Black Desert. Instead of taxing residents for this shortfall, we should make a one-time adjustment by drawing from our high reserves. Can we commit to basing future decisions on actual revenue received, not highly uncertain forecasted revenue?

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4. Fund Police and Fire Wages with Existing Surplus

Attracting and retaining high-quality police and fire personnel is a top city priority. We have an immediate, no-tax solution to address this need.

• Is it possible to use a portion of the FY2025 surplus or a small portion of the reserves to fund the necessary raises for our first responders first, providing clear support for public safety without resorting to a property tax increase?

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5. Shift Away from Fear-Based, Long-Range Decision Making

A number of budgetary requests are based on speculative long-term needs that generate fear without providing concrete data. We should make decisions based on what we know and what we can control now.

• Is it reasonable to consider waiting to raise taxes based on a fear of unknown future costs that are many years away? Instead, can we focus on current efficiencies and pursue alternatives that provide revenue and cost savings today?

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6. Aggressively Pursue New Revenue and Efficiency

Instead of defaulting to a tax hike, we must proactively pursue all other revenue and efficiency measures:

 

Smart Financial Alternatives (Questions the City Should Ask)​​​​​​​​​​​​​           Why It Matters

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