Mon Aug 18 04:30:00 UTC 2025: ## Utah School Districts Turn to Property Tax Hikes to Retain Teachers
**SALT LAKE CITY, UT** – Faced with a growing teacher shortage fueled by competitive salaries in neighboring districts, a wave of Utah school districts is seeking property tax increases to boost employee compensation and retain educators. This year, 14 districts across the state are asking voters to approve higher property taxes, with at least six specifically citing the need to address changing demands in employee compensation as a key driver.
Box Elder School District is leading the charge, seeking an additional $11 million in annual property tax revenue, a nearly 25% increase to the tax rate. Superintendent Steve Carlsen acknowledged the burden this places on homeowners but emphasized the necessity of staying competitive. “We just felt like we needed to do it to keep Box Elder in a competitive market for great teachers because great teachers, as we know, help kids be successful,” Carlsen stated. The district has reportedly lost faculty and staff to districts offering higher pay in recent years.
The funding disparity is particularly acute in rural districts like Box Elder, which receive less state funding due to lower student enrollment and a smaller tax base. While the state distributes funds based on enrollment, individual district boards determine their property tax needs.
“The only way we can solve it right now is to go to our folks and try to be as kind as we can, yet do what we need to do, hopefully, to help our employees,” Carlsen explained.
The Utah Taxpayers Association acknowledges the difficult situation. President Billy Hesterman points out that rural districts are facing a particularly challenging landscape. “We do have a problem that students in our state, some portion of their education, the quality of it is being determined by where they live instead of by, you know, how good they do and how good of a teacher we can hire,” Hesterman said.
Even urban districts are feeling the pressure. Provo City School District is considering a 5.47% property tax increase to ensure it can retain its best teachers. According to the district’s website, neighboring districts offer higher pay to first-year teachers, and that gap widens with experience.
“We’re now having a, maybe, correction in the market of people saying ‘This is how much I’m willing to work for to be a teacher,’ and the taxpayers are having to cover it,” Hesterman noted.
Hesterman hopes to collaborate with lawmakers to equalize funding differences across the state. Until then, districts like Box Elder will rely on local property taxes to ensure their students have access to a quality education, regardless of their location. The decisions will ultimately rest with local voters.
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