7
Millcreek
City
It’s Time
”The Government closest
to the people is the
government that governs
best.”
Thomas Jefferson
Emigration
Canyon
Magna
Kearns
Millcreek
Map
Copperton
Remaining Populous
Unincorporated Areas
Why become a city?
A. To Have a Voice
B. Stop Property Tax Increases
C. Better Representation and
Accountability
D. Develop Community Identity
E. Preserve Millcreek and
Stop annexations
Millcreek Township has no legal voice
or decision making authority
Townships have “no legal or political
identity separate from the county.”
Utah Code Title 17 Chapter 27a Section 103.58
City council members have a legal voice
Township council members do not.
Why become a city?
A. To Have a Voice
B. Stop Property Tax Increases
C. Better Representation and
Accountability
D. Develop Community Identity
E. Preserve Millcreek and
Stop annexations
GOVERNMENT STRUCTURE
Where do our taxes go?
– Federal Government
– Utah State Government
– County Government
– City/Municipal Government
For unincorporated areas, SL County acts as Millcreek’s
“city” government and collects and spends County revenue
AND our Municipal Revenue.
GOVERNMENT SERVICES
COUNTYWIDE SERVICES:
Health and Human Services, Criminal Justice, Parks and Recreation,
Libraries, Elections, Cemeteries, Records
CITY/MUNICIPAL SERVICES:
Safety (Police, Fire, Justice Courts), Public Works (streets, curbs and gutters,
sidewalks, water), Waste removal (garbage), Snow Removal, Animal Control,
Zoning, Planning
How much money?
• Millcreek Township Pays $31 million
annually to SL County, and its Service Districts,
to act as our city/municipal government.
–To Unified Police District $7.52 Million
–To Unified Fire Authority $7.82 M
–Other Municipal Services $15.66 M
Salt Lake County
Feasibility Study, 2011
• Projected revenues and expenses over 5 years
(2011-2016)
– Assumed a 2.5% increase in expenses, for inflation
– Assumed a 1.0% increase in sales tax revenues
• Revenue/Expense at 100.3% first year
• Incorporation Feasible!
Including all costs of transferring municipal services from
County to City. No duplication of services!
No franchise fees necessary!
2012 Updated Analysis
Updated 2012 analysis using actual tax
revenues.
• Again, assumed 2.5% increase in expenses
• Actual sales tax revenues:
5.4% increase in 2011
8.4% increase in 2012
Source: Utah State Tax Commission
Study Findings, 2012
Demonstrates the city of Millcreek to be
even more feasible than projected in 2011
Feasibility study.
Millcreek would gain $12M over 5 years to
address neglected needs and make
improvements.
NO TAX INCREASE, BETTER SERVICE.
MAJOR FINDINGS
Available Funds to Address Neglected Needs
$14,000,000
$12,000,000
$10,000,000
$8,000,000
$6,000,000
$4,000,000
$2,000,000
$0
Fund Balance: Millcreek Incorp.
2012
$1,014,593
2013
$2,113,881
2014
$3,892,458
2015
$5,887,498
2016
$8,055,592
2017
$10,318,366
2018
$12,680,515
14
City Start-Up Costs
• One time Startup Cost—0.5 percent of
annual budget.
• Ongoing Annual Costs—No additional
costs/payment shifts from SL County
to Millcreek City
Typical Mayors’ Salaries
in S. L. County
FULL TIME MAYORS
2012 Gross Compensation*
Sandy (Tom Dolan)
$160,329
Salt Lake City (Ralph Becker)
$157,572
Appointed Liason for (Patrick Leary)
$163,022
Unincorporated S. L. County(Millcreek)
PART TIME MAYORS
West Valley City (Michael Winder)
$53,932
Holladay (Dennis Webb)
$26,068
Cottonwood Heights (Kelvyn Cullimore)
$25,593
* Gross Compensation includes all benefits and payroll taxes
Source: Utah’s Right to Know http://www.utahsright.com/h_salaries.php
Do we have the commercial tax base to
support our population? YES!
• Millcreek City is Feasible without
increasing taxes or reducing services.
• Commercial Tax Base – Short List
Olympus Hills, 3300 So., St. Mark’s Hospital, Highland
Drive, 700 East, State Street, 4500 So. and Highland Dr. , #2
REI store in the U.S. Twice Tax Base of Cottonwood Heights
• Millcreek has a solid and diverse tax base.
Millcreek City
• Keep our revenue in Millcreek
Millcreek residents pay 6%-7% more for the United Police
District than cities like Holladay do, for the same service.
Presently Millcreek Township has no authority to negotiate
service contracts.
• Millcreek City can negotiate contracts with
service providers, ensuring best cost and
quality of service.
• Millcreek City will activate an economic
development plan to improve our commercial
tax base.
Simplify our Government
• Eliminate the multiple layers of Government
with their boards and staff
– UFA district
– UPD district
– Sanitation district
– Soon to be public works
Reduce and replace 4 layers of government by
locally elected officials – a mayor and council to
contract for all the services.
Local Control Means Lower Taxes
Truth In Taxation - Certified Property Tax
(Cumulative Increases & Decreases)
120%
Total Cumulative Percentage Property Tax Increase in Salt Lake
County (Millcreek Township), 114.34%
110%
100%
UPD started, 2011
90%
Percentage Change Since 1998 (%)
80%
70%
Taylorsville City Incorporates, 1996
29.4% Property Tax Increase
Over 14 years
UFA started,
60%
50%
Cottonwood Heights Incorporates, 2005
0 % Property Tax Increase
40%
Holladay City Incorporates,
1999
0 % Property Tax Increase
30%
20%
10%
0%
'98
'99
'00
'01
'02
'03
'04
'05
'06
'07
'08
'09
'10
Year
SL Co (w/UFA & UPD)
Taylorsville
Holladay
Ctwd Heights
Source: Utah Tax State Tax Commission, Property Tax Division, Utah Certified Tax Rates
'11
'12
Cities are More Efficient
• Cities have held the line on property
taxes for many years, even during
startup.
• SL County has increased taxes (114%)
to pay the same (or less) services.
Utah State Tax Commission
Conclusion
Almost all Cities in Salt Lake
County—particularly those near
to Millcreek- Have lower
property taxes than Millcreek
Township residents.
Salt Lake City
West Valley City
Midvale City
Herriman
0.006000
*Millcreek \ County*
Riverton
South Salt Lake
West Jordan
Cottonwood Heights
South Jordan
Murray City
0.004000
Taylorsville
Draper
Holladay
Bluffdale City
Sandy
Comparable Municipal Services
Property Tax Rates 2012 v. 2013
0.007000
Millcreek
Township
0.005000
Nearby Cities
0.003000
2012 Rate
0.002000
2013 Rate
0.001000
0.000000
Why become a City?
A. To Have a Voice
B. Stop Property Tax Increases
C. Better Representation and
Accountability
D. Develop Community Identity
E. Preserve Millcreek/
Stop annexations
Salt Lake County Population
1,029,655
2010 Census
Unincorporated
141,448
13.7%
Cities
888,167
86.3%
Why has No City ever looked back and asked to return to the
unincorporated County. WHY?
WHY?
• Local control of Priorities and
Funds
• Resolution of Years of Neglected
Issues
1. L
a
a
Salt Lake
County Council
• Legislative Body for all of S.L. County
• Also the Municipal Government for
Unincorporated Areas (Millcreek)
• Violates the basic principle of
Representative Government
• Creates a Conflict of Interest
Does County Council Represent
Millcreek Township well?
• Millcreek represents 43% of SL County
unincorporated population
• Only one of nine County Councilors lives in Millcreek.
He also represents Holladay and parts of SLC and
Cottonwood Heights.
• Seven of nine County Councilors live in cities with
municipal governments accountable to their own
citizens.
• Police Fee was charged ONLY to the unincorporated
County.
County Council: Seven of Nine
Have No Direct Accountability to
Unincorporated Residents
• Nine Council Members
• Three “At-Large”
• Six represent Districts
Only 2 have any significant
Unincorporated Constituency (Sam
Granato and Michael Jensen)
“The county knows it has neglected the
Millcreek Township infrastructure for many
years.”
S.L. County Official
Millcreek City Government
Direct Election of City Officials:
• Will be citizens of the Millcreek City—
your neighbors, elected by you, accessible,
and accountable to you!
• Will be responsible for, and advocate for
issues affecting Millcreek City.
• Will have a vote and seat at the table of UFA,
UPD, UDOT, Council of Mayors, and League of
Cities & Towns –all powerful entities.
Why become a City?
A. To Have a Voice
B. Stop Property Tax Increases
C. Better Representation and
Accountability
D. Develop Community Identity
E. Preserve Millcreek/
Stop annexations
To Salt Lake City
1977
T
Annexed to South Salt
Lake -- 1998
To Holladay
2005
2001
3 annexations in 2002
To Murray
Millcreek Township
“The status quo is not an option.”
• League of Cities and Towns, Many
Legislators want wall-to-wall cities.
• 4 cities have annexation plans in place.
• Any property owner—business or
private—can initiate annexation petition
• Township borders opened Nov. 7th, 2012.
It is Happening Now
Petitions have begun:
• To annex a part of Millcreek
Township to Holladay.
• To annex Millcreek to Salt Lake City
Which part of Millcreek do you think
we can afford to lose?
OPTIONS
1. Create Millcreek City—Control our
Destiny; No One left behind.
-OR2. Let others decide our Fate
a) Surrounding Cities
b) Annexation Petitioners
c) County Council
8 Reasons to …
Vote Yes
If you would…
 Vote Yes to local representative government
 Vote YES to local control of how our taxes are spent.
 Vote Yes to control the soaring Property Tax in Millcreek.
 Vote Yes to keep our Sales Tax Revenue in Millcreek.
 Vote Yes to determine our service levels and price.
 Vote Yes to restore Millcreek’s neglected infrastructure.
 Vote Yes to preserve our Millcreek communities.
 Vote Yes to shape our own future for us, and our children.
Then…
 Vote Yes to the Millcreek City incorporation.
HOW YOU CAN HELP
• Be sure you sign the petition!
• Talk with your neighbors.
• Host a “fact” night for your neighbors
• Help gather signatures.
• Financially Contribute