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UFSA proposes tax hike to boost fire services

The Unified Fire Service Area (UFSA), which oversees the Unified Fire Authority, has proposed a tax increase to cover the rising cost of fire services in its 12 jurisdictions, including Eagle Mountain.

The proposal, which could impact local property taxes, was presented to the Eagle Mountain City Council on Tuesday.

“These are the main drivers behind the need: the cost of service, upgrading fire stations, additional staffing, and maintaining our fund balance,” said UFA’s Chief Financial Officer Tony Hill.

The proposed tax increase is divided into two phases. Phase Two would add $41 per year, or $3.45 per month, to the average residential tax bill across UFSA’s jurisdiction.

This phase addresses several factors contributing to increased operational costs: inflation, wage increases, capital replacements, and the rising costs of building construction. For example, turnout equipment has surged by 86%, fuel by 32% and medical supplies by 21%.

Additionally, entry-level firefighter wages have increased over the past six years to remain competitive, while the Consumer Price Index (CPI) has risen by 27%.

“The reason I bring this up is because we’re not trying to keep up with CPI, but we are trying to recruit and retain the best firefighters possible,” said UFA Fire Chief Dominic Burchett. “In order to do that, we’ve had to raise our wages by 22% in the last six years.”

The second phase of the increase also includes new costs due to increased call volume and growth, particularly in rapidly expanding areas like Eagle Mountain and Kearns.

Current response times across UFA’s jurisdictions average 10-12 minutes, but suburban and urban response standards typically demand 6-8 minutes. The UFSA has proposed adding a four-person company to Station 253 in Eagle Mountain to help achieve quicker response times.

“So, moving forward, if this is approved, you’ll have three four-person companies serving Eagle Mountain,” said Chief Burchett.

The proposal also includes staffing for Kearns, where the call volume is the highest in the UFSA. With a population of 36,000, Kearns is currently served by just one fire station, making it reliant on surrounding stations in Taylorsville, West Valley, and West Jordan. The addition of another unit at Kearns Station 107 would reduce response times and reliance on neighboring areas.

A shift to four-person companies has been a long-term goal for UFSA. The four-person staffing model increases the capacity for medical and fire responses and ensures greater efficiency, especially for complex calls.

“The biggest thing on fire response is we have a rule. It’s a national standard rule called ‘two in, two out.’ So if you have two people standing outside, you can have two people inside,” says Burchett. “With the three-person company, you can’t make entry until a second engine or ladder company shows up to have two and two out.”

This significantly delays fire suppression when time is of the essence, with fires doubling in size every 60 seconds.

The total cost of the additional staffing in Eagle Mountain and Kearns is $6.3 million. The UFSA also faces a financial policy that requires maintaining a 15% fund balance to cover emergencies. The proposed tax increase would help ensure the fund balance stays above the required threshold.

“One note for the council and the mayor,” Hill added. “A service area like ours, property tax is the only true revenue source. We don’t collect sales tax or franchise fees. We don’t have some of those other types of taxes that municipalities can use to fund the service. So, when we need to increase our revenue or service levels, this is our option—we have to do it through our property tax.”

In 2024, UFSA expects to collect $50 million in property taxes, which is projected to rise to $62.3 million in 2025 if the tax increase is approved.

A public hearing on the proposed tax increase will take place on Dec. 10 at 6 p.m. at the UFSA Board of Directors meeting.

For those unable to attend in person, a Zoom option will be available. At the meeting, UFSA will present the same information shared during the Eagle Mountain City Council work session. All materials will also be made available on the UFSA website.