Ever wondered how your tax dollars support the services you rely on every day? From street plowing and park maintenance to police and fire protection, South Jordan uses a mix of property tax, sales tax, franchise fees, and other revenues to keep our city running smoothly.
Let’s start with property taxes. While you pay one bill, that amount is split among several government entities. In fact, South Jordan City receives only about 14 cents of every dollar you pay in property tax. The largest portion—about 40%—goes to the Jordan School District, followed by the State Basic School Levy (15%), Salt Lake County (14%), the South Jordan City (14%), and the County Library (5%). Even with just a small slice of the pie, the City puts those dollars to work: 100% of our Police Department is funded by property tax, and about 19% of the Fire Department’s budget comes from that same source. Property tax accounts for nearly a quarter of budgeted general fund revenues.
Next up: sales tax. The 7.25% sales tax rate accounts for the largest single revenue source for the City’s general fund—making up about 40% of it. That’s why shopping local really matters. Of the 7.25%, a 1% portion is distributed to local governments, and South Jordan keeps about half of that amount. The rest is pooled statewide and redistributed based on each city’s population.
That’s where growth plays a role. Between the 2010 and 2020 censuses, South Jordan’s population grew by 53%, compared to 18% for the state. This population growth helps bring in a greater share of the sales tax revenue pool, which supports our expanding services and infrastructure.
So, how do we decide where to spend your tax dollars? Through a system called Priority Based Budgeting (PBB)—an approach that allows the City to align spending with the community’s top priorities. PBB puts everything on the table, allowing City leaders to evaluate the true cost and value of each service. That means resources are invested in what matters most and adjusted where needed.
Nearly a year in advance, City staff and the City Council begin building the budget for the upcoming fiscal year, which begins July 1. Through PBB, your input, data, and the City’s strategic priorities help guide how dollars are allocated. The end result: a budget that’s focused, transparent, and built to support the kind of city we all want to live in.
Want to learn more? Visit our Tax Education 101 webpage to explore how your taxes support South Jordan’s future.