Truth in taxation set for Town of Bluff

By David Boyle
News Director
Members of the Bluff town council approved ordinances related to idling and Jake brakes, approved a bid for asbestos mitigation work and began truth in taxation process to potentially raise property taxes over the past month.
The Town of Bluff began the truth in taxation process to raise property taxes in early May.
In order to raise property tax rates in the state of Utah several public meetings are required with the town holding a presentation on a proposed property tax increase,as part of the May 5 meeting.
While the town of Bluff’s currency property tax revenue is $33,000 the town proposes a $50,000 increase in property tax revenue aimed at Emergency Services in the town.
The town states the additional $50,0000 in the emergency services budget will go towards hiring a part-time Emergency Services Administrative Manager to oversee functions, represent the town on local and regional emergency coordination efforts, with the increase also supporting additional emergency services equipment.
The impact schedule also notes expected increases including $225.85 annually to a primary residence with a market value of $500,000 and $1,366.39 to a business property with a market value of $1 million.
Upcoming meetings related to the town budget include on May 19 a Your Town Budget at Work Open House with council and staff on hand to share more about the proposed FY27 tentative budget.
A FY27 Bluff tentative budget hearing is scheduled for the afternoon of June 2 and a required Truth in Taxation Public Hearing will take place in early August.
At the April 7 meeting members of the Bluff town council approved ordinances regulating idling of ground transportation vehicles.
In relation to enforcement the council was recommended by legal counsel to have the ordinance in place as a first step with education and enforcement coming into play after.
The ordinance, guided largely by state code, prevents idling of vehicles for longer than 15 minutes with a first offense resulting in a warning citation. A subsequent violation results in a $110 fine with repeated offenses may result in fines up to $1080 per offense.
Members of the town council also adopted an ordinance regulating engine brake devices. Also known as Jake Brakes the ordinance prohibits the use of those brakes in town with fines starting at $110 for a first offense and fines up to $1080 for repeated offenses.
Members of the Bluff town council also reviewed seven bids for asbestos mitigation for the Bluff Rural Innovation and Civic Center or BRICC.
The building was formerly known as the Cooperative Cultural Center and the old elementary school building. The rename is proposed to better position the building for grant applications.
At an April 9 meeting, after evaluating the bids, the council awarded the asbestos mitigation contract to DRL Enterprises at a cost of $50,000. The bid was the low bid and members of the council approved the award unanimously.