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Property valuation notices now arriving in mailboxes statewide carry expensive news for some Utahns: Property tax hikes are proposed by 33 local governments, such as cities, school districts and special districts for fire and police protection.

But some local leaders contend they are not really raising taxes — even though definitions in state law say they are, and their residents will see higher tax bills.

For example, Art Raymond, spokesman for Salt Lake City Mayor Ralph Becker, stresses that his city proposes to charge the same tax rate as last year in what he calls a move to "stabilize last year's revenues."

But the assessed value of properties in the city rose last year. So when those higher values are multiplied by the same tax rate, people pay higher taxes. And the city receives more money.

"That certainly is a tax increase," says Billy Hesterman, vice president of the Utah Taxpayers Association.

He notes that state law requires local governments to figure how to adjust tax rates to generate the same revenue as the previous year (plus some from any new growth). If they want more, it is considered a tax hike — and they must hold a "Truth in Taxation" public hearing before the increase is finalized.

A schedule of such Truth in Taxation hearings in August is included in tax valuation notices sent to residents.

"For a government to ask for more revenue means they are asking for more money from taxpayers," Hesterman says. "They are asking for more money from us, so to say they are not asking for more tax is a little disingenuous."

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Tax hikes? • Salt Lake City — where revenue increases would cost an extra $29 a year on a $210,000 home, according to Utah State Tax Commission data — is not the only entity arguing that taxes are not rising because tax rates are staying the same.

For example, Woodland Hills Mayor Steve Lauritzen said his city is studying the option of sticking with last year's tax rate — which he referred to as keeping taxes the same.

Because of higher property values there, that same rate would boost revenues. He said the city needs the money "because our roads haven't been improved in decades," and it needs a new well and other water facilities. He said his city has few businesses and little sales tax flow, so property tax is its major revenue source.

Similar assertions are made in the tiny Tintic School District with 250 students in Eureka, Trout Creek and Callao. It is proposing the state's largest tax increase by dollar, $146 on a $210,000 home.

"As compared to last year's total tax rate, we are not increasing taxes. We're actually going to lower our levy," said district business administrator Jeremy Snell. He acknowledges it will raise more money because of higher valuations, which he says the district needs to catch up with inflation after not raising revenues for more than a decade.

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Highest increases • The 33 local governments proposing tax hikes this year, according to data from the Utah State Tax Commission, is down a bit from the 37 that raised them last year. In 2013, 42 raised taxes, as did 20 in 2012.

A complete list of this year's proposals is online at sltrib.com.

Some of the largest tax increases by dollar, besides the Tintic School District hike, include: $86.39 on a $210,000 home (now the median home price in Utah) in the Wayne County School District, $75.31 in Draper's Traverse Ridge Special Service District, $74.73 in Woodland Hills, $66.64 in Willard, $64.80 in Elk Ridge, $62 in Fruit Heights, and $61.79 in the Tooele County School District.

Some proposed tax hikes are tiny, including an increase of just 32 cents on a $210,000 home in Salt Lake County's Unified Fire Service Area, 46 cents in the Salt Lake Valley Law Enforcement Service Area and 92 cents in the Daggett County School District.

By percentage, the biggest proposed increases are in Willard, 60.5 percent; Fruit Heights, 29.3 percent; Elk Ridge, 25 percent; and the Moab Valley Fire Protection District, 21.1 percent.

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City needs • Local leaders offer a variety of reasons for the proposed tax hikes.

A common reason among cities is the need to improve roads — as Lauritzen said is Woodland Hills' top need.

Brandon Green, city manager of Fruit Heights, said his city needs about $1.3 million worth of road improvements. "When your city's total budget is $1.9 million, it's pretty tough to come up with the money needed," he said.

The proposed tax hike would help erase much of the backlog over the next decade, he said. Counties are also considering putting on the ballot a sales tax hike to help fund local transportation projects, but Green said that would generate only $30,000 a year for Fruit Heights — which would help, but not enough.

Royce Swensen, Elk Ridge city recorder, said his city had to defer road projects as it held the line on taxes in the past. "We also just need to deal with inflation," he said.

In Willard City, Councilman Del Fredde said his city had not raised taxes in a long time, and needs are forcing its hand now just "to keep us afloat."

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­School needs • Several school districts say they are proposing tax hikes in part to cover changes in state law that require some to transfer more of their funds to charter schools.

Districts making that argument include Murray (proposing an increase of $24.02 on a $210,000 home), Granite (a hike of $20.56) and Salt Lake City ($9.47).

"Without a tax increase, the district would have to cut other programs to pay for this charter-school funding increase," Salt Lake City School District spokesman Jason Olsen earlier told The Tribune.

Hesterman, with the taxpayers association, doesn't buy that, saying operations cost less for public schools when some students transfer to charters. "We feel taxpayers are already paying for those students, and now they are trying to make them pay for them twice."

Some school districts say they need to raise taxes to keep up with other problems created by dwindling student populations — or problems with growth.

Wayne County School District Superintendent Burke Torgerson said his district has only 450 students, and has lost about 15 percent of its student population in recent years — so it receives less state money through per-pupil formulas.

But he said Wayne County's schools are at the end of their expected lifespan, and the only way to cover costs or new facilities is with a tax increase.

Tooele County School District Scott Rogers said if his county grows as much as projected, it will need to build many schools in coming years. He said the proposed tax increase would handle some needed improvements now, and set aside some for future construction to help avoid interest costs of borrowing.

"Parents hate portable classrooms," he said. "But they also hate tax increases."

An unusual reason for higher taxes occurred in the Traverse Ridge Special Service District, which handles extra costs on that Draper hillside area for such services as snow removal and street maintenance.

Residents there complained for years that taxes were too high and last year passed a referendum that repealed the budget and tax levy previously set for it.

That action essentially set their taxes to zero for a time. Proposals now would charge district taxes of $75.31 on a $210,000 home, which is on top of regular Draper City taxes. Highest proposed property tax increases, on a $210,000 home:

Tintic School District • $145.65, up 18.1%

Wayne County School District • $86.39, up 19.8%

Traverse Ridge Special Service District • $75.31, new tax

Woodland Hills • $74.73, up 14%

Willard • $66.64, up 60.5%

Elk Ridge • $64.80, up 25%

Fruit Heights • $62.02, up 29.3%

Tooele County School District • $61.79, up 5.9%

Box Elder School District • $56.83, up 6.3%

Circleville • $41.81, up 17.5%

See full list online at sltrib.com

Source: Utah Tax Commission