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2026 Budget and Tax Increase

The 2026 Salt Lake County budget was passed with a property tax increase of approximately 14.65%, which equals less than $6.00 per month for the average homeowner (based on a $638,000 home value). The tax increase only applies to Salt Lake County's portion, which is about 17% of your total property tax bill. The remaining portions of property tax bills come from cities, school districts, and service districts that provide services like fire, water, and sewer.

For years, Salt Lake County has absorbed inflation by tightening budgets and finding efficiencies, yet costs have continually outpaced revenues. Like many Utah communities, Salt Lake County faces a structural gap that can no longer be ignored. The proposed increase is needed to help the County keep pace with rising costs while protecting essential services for our residents.

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Salt Lake County provides regional countywide services to all communities, in addition to unincorporated areas

Examples include:

  • Elections
  • Criminal Justice and Public Safety
  • Public Health
  • Property Tax Administration
  • Arts and Culture
  • Aging and Adult Services
  • Behavioral Health Services
  • County Library
  • Conventions and Tourism
  • Regional Parks and Recreation

Public safety is Salt Lake County’s largest responsibility. More than 74% of the county's general fund taxes are allocated to public safety, which includes law enforcement, operating the county jail, alternatives to incarceration, indigent legal defense, and prosecution.

The additional revenue will support public safety, critical infrastructure, and core services.

Service Provider CANYONS SCHOOL DISTRICT CANYONS SCHOOL DEBT SVCE STATE BASIC SCHOOL LEVY UT CHARTER SCHOOL-CANYONS SALT LAKE COUNTY SL COUNTY BOND INT/SINK SANDY CITY SANDY CITY DEBT SVCE SL COUNTY LIBRARY SOUTH SL VALLEY MOSQUITO METRO WATER SANDY COTTONWOOD IMPROVEMENT CENTRAL UT WATER CONSERV MULTI COUNTY ASSESS,'COLL COUNTY ASSESS,'COLL LEW Tax Rate 003053 001168 -001379 000056 001134 0001 19 -000951 -000098 000425 000008 000337 000278 000400 000014 000136 009556 1 Judgment .000000 .oooooo .oooooo .oooooo .oooooo .oooooo .oooooo .oooooo .oooooo .oooooo .oooooo .oooooo .oooooo .oooooo .oooooo .oooooo Amo unt 1,033.68 395.46 466.90 18.96 383.96 40.29 321.gg 33.18 143.90 2.71 114.10 94.13 135.43 4.73 46.05 3,23547

Understanding Your Property Tax Bill

Each property tax bill includes 8–10 service providers—like your city, school district, and service districts. Salt Lake County’s portion is approximately 17% of the total bill, depending on where you live.

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Frequently Asked Questions

The tax increase equals less than  $6.00 per month for the average homeowner (based on a home value of $638,000).

For years, Salt Lake County has absorbed rising costs—utilities, technology, infrastructure—without raising taxes. But costs have outpaced revenue growth for too long.

Property taxes are not allowed to grow with inflation. By definition, therefore, expenses increase more than property taxes. We haven't raised the tax rate since 2019; meanwhile, inflation has risen by 21% since 2020.

Our population has grown, which means service demands have increased. Federal pandemic recovery funds are ending. Inflation has eroded buying power. And unfunded mandates keep adding pressure.

Like many cities and counties, we face a structural gap we can no longer responsibly ignore.

Increasing taxes is not something we take lightly because we understand the financial impact taxes have on our residents. People on fixed incomes are especially impacted by tax increases, and we would never recommend an increase unless we felt it was absolutely necessary. With that in mind, we want to make sure you're aware of Salt Lake County programs that are available to help those struggling on fixed incomes:

  • Salt Lake County Tax Relief
  • Circuit Breaker
  • Senior Deferral
  • Indigent Relief
  • Hardship Relief

In addition to these programs, every January-April, the Westminster University Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program offers free tax preparation, electronic filing, and financial advocacy and stability services. One of the tax clinic locations is in the lobby of the Salt Lake County Government Center.

Also note that the Salt Lake County Treasurer has an option where residents may make monthly payments for their property taxes, instead of paying them all in a lump sum at the end of the year. Contact treasurer@saltlakecounty.gov. 

For years, Salt Lake County has absorbed rising costs—utilities, technology, infrastructure—without raising taxes. But costs have outpaced revenue growth for too long. Our property tax rate has effectively declined for 15 years. Population has grown. Service demands have increased. Federal pandemic recovery funds are ending. Inflation has eroded buying power. And unfunded mandates keep adding pressure. A rate increase is necessary this year to address public safety needs and maintain a balanced budget.  

Each property owner’s tax bill includes taxes from about 8 to 10 different taxing entities—such as your city, school district, and various service districts—depending on where you live. Each year, it’s common for at least one of these entities to increase its tax rate to keep pace with inflation and/or meet growing service demands. 

Salt Lake County’s portion accounts for roughly 17% of the average resident’s total property tax bill. The rest comes from other local entities, including cities, school districts, and service districts that provide essential services such as fire protection, mosquito abatement, sewer, and water. 

Utah’s system is designed so that rising property values alone do not automatically raise your property tax bill. Each year, the County Auditor calculates a certified tax rate for every taxing entity (county, city, school district, etc.). That rate is adjusted downward so the entity collects the same total revenue as the prior year—plus new-growth revenue from new construction. Below is a video that gives more info. 

Each year, the Salt Lake County Mayor proposes a balanced budget to the County Council, which then reviews and refines it over a six-week public process. Beginning in August, the Mayor and her finance team meet with independent elected offices and departments across the County to assess operational needs, priorities, and cost efficiencies.

After several years of holding the line on spending—denying requests and asking agencies to absorb rising costs—the County could no longer maintain core services without additional revenue. The proposed amount reflects the minimum increase needed to cover rising costs in public safety, inflationary pressures, and essential county operations while preserving fiscal responsibility and protecting our AAA bond rating.

The County Council started deliberating on the budget on October 21 and took a final vote on December 9.

Yes. Salt Lake County consistently looks for funding options to ease the burden on taxpayers. Salt Lake County has secured $60 million in grant funding since 2020 to be able to invest in affordable housing, sustainability, criminal justice services and reform, public health, and workforce development.  

We also use other funding sources strategically to address county-wide issues. For example, we use funds from legal settlements with pharmaceutical companies to address substance use and use tourism dollars to give youth free access to Salt Lake County Recreation Centers and build cultural and recreational projects for residents.  

2019 was the last time Salt Lake County raised the countywide tax rate.  

No, these taxes won't take effect until January 1, 2026, and won’t be due until fall 2026. The Salt Lake County Treasurer has an option where residents may make monthly payments for their property taxes, instead of paying them all in a lump sum at the end of the year. Contact treasurer@saltlakecounty.gov.  

No. Salt Lake County is the largest county in the fastest-growing state in the country, and this increase is an investment in our growing law enforcement and criminal justice needs.

But this does not duplicate the construction investments that were proposed in last year’s bond initiative. Put another way, last year’s bond proposal intended to build facilities, and this budget does not include funding for those new buildings. Rather, this budget addresses the inflationary pressures and rising operational costs associated with essential county services, including tax administration, information technology, data security, and general government operations.

The additional revenue will also support investments in public safety to meet increased caseloads and growing demands on the county jail, the District Attorney’s Office, and programs that provide alternatives to incarceration. The increase also allows the County to fund several new state-mandated programs that are currently unfunded. 

Yes, the council has cut positions in the mayor’s office—she has fewer staff than the previous mayor. They have refined operations to ensure resources are directed toward the most effective and appropriate county programs. The council also restructured its council office last year, improving efficiency and effectiveness, which saved $500,000 per year in ongoing costs in the general fund. 

No - it does not. Utah’s system is designed so that rising property values alone do not automatically raise your property tax bill. Each year, the County Auditor calculates a certified tax rate for every taxing entity (county, city, school district, etc.). That rate is adjusted downward so the entity collects the same total revenue as the prior year—plus new-growth revenue from new construction. Below is a video that gives more info.