Wasatch County to hold public hearing on Heber City Downtown Community Reinvestment Area

HEBER CITY, Utah – Wasatch County will hold a public hearing on Wednesday, Nov. 20, at 6 p.m. at the County Administration Building (25 N. Main, Heber) to hear community input and discuss potential participation in the Heber City Downtown Community Reinvestment Area (CRA). Comments may also be emailed to publiccomment@wasatch.utah.gov or join the meeting online.

The Heber City Downtown CRA is a designated zone within Heber City aimed at stimulating economic growth, enhancing infrastructure, and revitalizing the downtown area. Community Reinvestment Areas have been established in areas like the Granary District of Salt Lake City to attract private investment, support local businesses, and improve public spaces through the use of tax increment financing (TIF) and other incentives.

For three years, the Heber City Council has sought support from the Wasatch County Council and the Wasatch County School District for the CRA. Advocates say it will revitalize downtown Heber. The CRA uses tax increment financing, where local entities share 75% of property tax revenue for 20 years, to fund infrastructure improvements and attract private investment. In return, Heber City promises to boost the area’s profitability and increase future tax revenue.

As new things are built within the CRA area, 75% of the tax increment would go toward the CRA, and 25% would go back to Wasatch County. City officials have explained that there is also a cap on how much Wasatch County would contribute—currently $3M —and a 20-year limit that would apply.

Opposition to the Heber City CRA plan stems from several concerns raised by local stakeholders, including skepticism about its financial, social, and logistical impacts. Critics argue that diverting property tax revenue for as much as 20 years could reduce funding for critical public services, such as schools, emergency services, and infrastructure maintenance, especially for the Wasatch County School District.