Understanding how your city sales and property taxes are used can be confusing, especially when multiple government agencies provide services in the same area. In South Jordan, we want to make it easy for residents to understand where their tax dollars go, and just as importantly, where they don’t go.
While your property tax bill comes as one number, that amount is divided among several different agencies. South Jordan City receives only a portion of it, and we use those funds to provide the services residents rely on every day. Sales tax revenues are also divided among multiple entities: the State, the county, transit, transportation & zoo/arts.
The following is a straightforward explanation of what your City taxes support, based on some of the most common questions and misunderstandings we hear.
What Your City Taxes Do Pay For
Police, Fire, and Emergency Medical Services
These are among the highest-priority services for residents that the City provides. Your tax dollars ensure quick response times, highly trained public safety professionals, and 24/7 protection. All property taxes paid by residents covers 100% of Police services and approximately 19% of Fire services, remaining 81% of Fire services are paid for by sales tax dollars.
Roads, Streets, and Traffic Safety
South Jordan maintains neighborhood roadways, fills potholes, plows snow on City-owned streets, manages traffic calming, and keeps signs and signals functioning. These services are largely paid for by sales tax dollars. (Major highways like Bangerter, Mountain View Corridor, and Redwood Road are owned and maintained by UDOT, not the City.)
Parks, Trails, Open Space, and City Amenities
From playgrounds and sports fields to the Gale Museum and Community Center, City sales taxes fund ongoing maintenance and operations that keep these amenities clean, safe, and welcoming.
City Operations and Customer Service
Your sales taxes support public information, records, permitting, financial management, emergency communications, and the staff who make daily City services possible.
City Provided, Funded by fees
Some services are city-provided, but are NOT primarily funded by taxes.
Garbage & Recycling
South Jordan’s garbage and recycling services are funded entirely by resident fees, not general taxes. Through a contract with Ace Recycling & Disposal, the City provides weekly curbside pickup and maintains more than 20,000 garbage cans and 17,000 recycling cans. These fees also support neighborhood cleanup dumpsters, glass recycling, and seasonal leaf and tree drop-off programs.
Water & Stormwater Service
Behind the scenes, these systems protect homes, businesses, and roads. Funding helps prevent flooding, manage stormwater, and keep systems functioning properly. South Jordan manages the water infrastructure and billing, which is paid for through utility billing fees (Your monthly bill from the city).
Licensing & Permitting
Generally, any type of permitting, such as business licensing, building permits, and special events, is paid for with fees.
What Your City Taxes Do Not Pay For
Many services people associate with the City actually come from other agencies or organizations. Here are the most common examples:
Sewer
Your sewer services are provided by the Jordan Basin Improvement District (Formerly known as South Valley Sewer) and your bills come directly from them.
Schools & Education
The largest share of your property tax bill goes to Jordan School District, not the City.
County Library System
All library funding, including the South Jordan & Daybreak Libraries, are provided by Salt Lake County Library Services.
TRAX, FrontRunner, and UTA Transit
Transit services are funded and operated by UTA, with support from the state and federal government, not the City.
Major Roads and Highways
UDOT is responsible for all highways including Bangerter, Mountain View Corridor, I-15, and U-111; major corridors like South Jordan & Daybreak Parkways, and many high-volume roads in and around South Jordan.
HOA Services
If you live in an HOA neighborhood, your HOA, not the City, may provide:
- Front yard landscaping
- Private parks
- Alley and private road maintenance
- Snow removal in HOA-owned areas
Other utilities not funded by the city:
- Electricity (Rocky Mountain Power)
- Natural Gas (Dominion Energy)
- Internet/TV (Xfinity, CenturyLink, etc.)
Why This Matters
Knowing who provides what service helps:
- Reduce confusion
- Direct concerns to the right agency
- Improve response times
- Build understanding and trust
- Ensure you get the help you need faster
Visit our online Tax Education 101 page to learn more.