Commissioners officially put E911 sales tax on ballot

MANTI—The voters of Sanpete County will have a chance to pass or reject a 1% sales tax increase in the November election that would fund Enhanced 911 (E911) and rural health services.

The Sanpete County Commission unanimously approved the ballot measure on Tuesday.

Based on county estimates, the proposed tax would to generate between $450,000 and $500,000. But officials anticipate that as much as 22% of the revenue could come from visitors making taxable purchases in Sanpete County.

The tax would apply to purchases subject to sales tax under Utah law. Most non-food retail purchases would be subject to the additional tax, while many grocery food items would remain exempt. Prepared food and other convenience food purchases would be subject to the added tax.

Sanpete County dispatch officials previously told commissioners that the county is now required to have two dispatchers on duty at all times. And every incoming 911 call must be captured and stored in a computer-based recording system.

Those mandates have added significantly to the E911 budget, including approximately $175,000 for new computer systems.

During Tuesday’s meeting, Aaron Wood, president and CEO of Sanpete Valley Hospital, asked commissioners to consider another potential source of funding before asking residents to approve the tax.

Wood pointed to the Rural Health Transformation Program, created through the One Big Beautiful Bill. Utah received approximately $196 million in the first year of the program, with about $200 million annually anticipated over remaining years of the five-year program.

Wood said the funds are specifically intended to strengthen rural health care and could potentially help address some of the county’s health care needs.

“I would respectfully ask whether it might make sense to pause long enough to fully explore this opportunity with the state,” Wood told commissioners.

“We simply don’t know yet what opportunities may be available to Sanpete County,” Wood said.

Wood offered to have Intermountain Health and Sanpete Valley Hospital help the county explore the federal funding and determine what resources might be available.

Commissioners acknowledged the potential opportunity but said the county is under a tight deadline to place the measure on the November ballot.

Commissioner Scott Bartholomew said approving the resolution would not necessarily mean the county would have to impose the tax if another funding source became available.

“If we don’t go after the avenue of finding the resources now, then we are going to be out some services…,” Bartholomew said.

He said the E911 budget is expected to double in the coming year as the county addresses the new requirements.

Commissioner Jim Cheney said he would like to see the county continue pursuing other funding sources even if voters approve the tax.

“I would love to have this tax passed and then go back to voters and say we don’t need it,” he said.