May 19, 2000

Things like fire and police protection are, of course, paid for with your tax dollars. But what if, on top of your taxes, you were also charged a fee if you were involved in a car accident that required emergency response? News Specialist Scott Light reports it could happen, depending on where you live.

If you live in Salt Lake City, you may have thought you were getting more public services with your tax dollars. But because of the city's budget problem, you're not. In fact, you may even be asked to pay a fee on top of your taxes.

For years, Salt Lake City residents were paying twice for paramedic services -- from the city, and from Salt Lake County. That was recently changed, which opened up an opportunity for city residents to get a tax break.

But Salt Lake City officials have decided to keep it, to help pay for the city's huge budget problem.

Rocky Fluhart/Chief Administrative Officer: "MONEY IN THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR, THE INCREASE WILL BE ABOUT 2 MILLION AND ANOTHER MILLION THE FOLLOWING FISCAL YEAR. WHEN MAYOR ANDERSON TOOK OFFICE, WE INHERITED A BUDGET THAT WAS PROJECTED IN THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR TO BE ABOUT 8 MILLION DOLLARS OUT OF BALANCE."

That $2-million is going into the city's general fund, instead of toward paramedic services.

At the same time, the fire department has proposed charging a fee for every structure fire and car accident it handles, because the fire department has to make up its own budget shortfall of $310,000. The money would pay to put four firefighters in each engine company.

Devin Villa/Salt Lake City Fire Dept.: "FOUR FIREFIGHTERS ON THE UNIT IS OPTIMAL. WE'RE TRYING TO MEET THAT GOAL, AND THIS IS WHERE WE'RE FALLING SHORT ON THE $310,000."

The Utah Taxpayers Association says although city taxpayers are no longer paying twice for paramedic services, imposing a fee for basic services is another form of double taxation.

Greg Fredde/Utah Taxpayer Association: "ALREADY TAXPAYERS ARE PAYING SIGNIFICANT DOLLARS TO RECEIVE THOSE BASIC CITY SERVICES, AND IF THEY'RE PAYING FEES ON TOP OF THAT, THAT'S A CONCERN THAT IT RAISES THE OVERALL BURDEN."

Let's compare other locations:

Sandy is not going to pay the county anymore, so it's using hundreds of thousands of dollars to build another fire station here.

West Valley says it's doing the same thing, as it ramps up its paramedic service.

But in Salt Lake, you could pay a fee of $300 for a fire, and at least $100 for a car accident, on top of your taxes that go to paramedic services.