None of the more than 400 residents gathered at Farmington Junior High seemed to want to let their elected officials off the hook for the hefty increases they discovered on their recent property tax notices. Rising property values, combined with last December's 37 percent tax increase, left many wondering how to make ends meet.

That increase brought $7 million into the budget to fund jail operations and maintenance, flood prevention and senior services.

"I should make as much money as you guys are," Gordon Tyler told commissioners. "I'm a senior citizen on a fixed income - I've paid my dues but I fear my wife and I will be forced to move."

Tyler was one of several who threatened to launch a taxpayers revolt and launch an initiative, similar to California's Proposition 13, to cap property taxes.

When Commissioner Louenda Downs mentioned how the higher property valuations were related to the booming real estate market, Tyler didn't buy it.

"You're saying the housing market is great, but mortgage companies are filing bankruptcies and sales are falling," Tyler said.

Bountiful resident Jack Billings spoke of an extra half lot he owns that has no improvements on it.

"Last year the value on that half lot went up 458 percent," Billings said. "On a fixed income you feel crowded, I mean really crowded. I hope you folks feel a little crowded now."

Joyce Winters, in her 70s and still making house payments, said she and her husband also feared being forced from their home as taxes continue to climb.

"You're forcing us to go to the Legislature and ask them to freeze taxes for seniors," Winters said.

In Bountiful, a south Davis city hit especially hard by recent property reassessments, city officials have taken a stand.

"Our City Council is united against this tax increase and the way you assessed Bountiful," said council member Fred Moss. "Your methodology was wrong" - referring to higher valuations and a simultaneous bump in the tax rate. He also objected to the fact that residential properties went up in value but commercial properties stayed the same.

Bountiful City Manager Tom Hardy told commissioners he would push hard for a rollback in assessed property values to last year's levels.

Some residents recommended the commissioners personally take a pay cut and trim back their $100,000 government salaries to reduce the county's budget.

All three commissioners agreed to consider that option, along with other suggestions brought to them Thursday night.

"I've been in office since January. I was blindsided by what happened with these valuations," Downs said. "I'm here to listen tonight and see if we can roll back taxes. In a year you'll be able to see what we've done."

Rumblings from the crowd indicated some didn't want to give commissioners that much time.

"I hope you hear what we're saying," said Bountiful resident Chuck Swallow. "You need to learn to live with what you have."

cmckitrick@sltrib.com