- Box Elder School District proposes a 37% tax increase after bond failure.
- The increase funds a new school, expansions and a 2% employee pay raise.
- Residents express concern over affordability, urging responsible use of existing funds.
BRIGHAM CITY — Taxpayers in northern Utah may soon have to fork over more money to the school district.
The Box Elder School District is asking for a 37% tax increase after its latest effort to raise more money failed. A $220 million bond in 2024 that would have funded the construction of multiple new schools failed by a two-to-one margin.
Now, district leaders are proposing to increase property taxes by $343 per year on a typical home. It's one of dozens of local government entities currently considering tax increases across the state.
What would the increase pay for?
Steve Carlsen, Box Elder School District superintendent, said the money is desperately needed. It would pay for building a new elementary school in Tremonton, adding on to both Bear River High School and Box Elder High School and giving district employees a 2% pay bump.
"We're in a competitive market for teachers and educators in general," Carlsen said.
Carlsen acknowledged the difficulty of asking taxpayers for more money. But he said this new proposal costs much less than the bond would have, and it's cheaper to act now than to wait for building costs to go up.
"We just feel like we've trimmed it back to make it so that we can actually try to make it happen," Carlsen said, "without putting way too much burden on the taxpayers."
'It's just not right'
Jami Poppleton and Kristie Bowcutt each got their tax notices in the mail recently. Right at the top was the proposed increase for the Box Elder School District.
"It's a huge increase that the residents here cannot afford," Poppleton said, adding, "it's just not right."
The two oppose the plan, especially since they just voted a few months ago against the bond to build new schools. Nearly 68% of voters in Box Elder County opposed it.
"There's a reason for that," Bowcutt said, "and all of a sudden this tax increase is thrown on top of it. It's a hard pill to swallow."
The two taxpayers said the district needs to work with the money it has — and listen to voters.
"It all comes back to being responsible with the public's money," Bowcutt said.
Next steps
The Box Elder School Board will make the final decision on whether to raise taxes. A public hearing is scheduled for Aug. 13. The meeting begins at 7 p.m. at 960 S. Main, in Brigham City. Citizens can also take part virtually.
