Water rates to rise for nearly 800,000 Utahns after board votes in favor of tax increase

WEST JORDAN, Utah (KUTV) — Nearly 800,000 residents in the Utah Valley will soon see a higher water bill, after a controversial 11% water tax increase was approved Monday night by the Jordan Valley Water Conservancy District.

The board passed the tax increase Monday evening with seven votes in favor and two against. The decision, made during a heated public meeting, has sparked concern and frustration among residents, especially those on fixed incomes who said the hike is an unfair burden.

Stephen and Julie Kenyon, longtime residents living on a fixed income, were among those against the increase.

“We get nothing out of this. We don’t get any part of any increase—just an increase in taxes,” said Stephen Kenyon. “We would like to see those in charge look at where you can cut and do better.”

The couple, like many others, is worried about how the hike will compound with other potential tax increases in the future.

“They want to raise it 11%—that’s a lot,” added Julie Kenyon. “I’m sure they’re not the only ones. Public utilities and other places want to raise theirs for property tax, too. So, when is this going to end?”

Supporters of the increase said it’s a necessary step to maintain and expand vital infrastructure as the population in the area continues to grow. The funds will be used for everything from daily operations to system maintenance and conservation efforts.

However, not everyone on the board was on board.

Riverton City Council Member Andy Pierucci, who serves on the Jordan Valley Water Conservancy District board, was the lone dissenting vote at both the June and August meetings. He said the board should have looked harder at internal cost-cutting before asking residents to pay more.

“Before we, as government, go and ask them for more taxes, we need to do everything possible to cut costs and tighten our belts,” Pierucci said. “I don’t feel like we’ve done that enough yet.”

When asked where the revenue would go, Pierucci pointed to a wide range of expenses: from staff salaries to conservation facilities and ongoing infrastructure projects.

The 11% tax increase goes into effect immediately, and residents will see the change reflected on their next water bill.

With costs climbing and residents feeling the squeeze, many are left wondering how much more they’ll be asked to pay in the months and years to come.

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