"I know that this weighs heavily upon the hearts and the wallets of those people on a fixed income but ... we are doing this to fill a gap that needs filled at this point," said board member Jan Clemmer. "This is in the best interest of our community and an investment in our children and in our future."

District spokesman Jason Olsen said it is the largest tax increase the district has seen in more than five years.

• The Granite Board of Education unanimously hiked taxes by nearly $13 on a $191,000 home. The new tax will increase the Granite district's property tax revenue by 5.35 percent, or $5.1 million.

The tax revenue will fund part of Gov. Walker's reading program. The Legislature agreed to pay for half of the $30 million K-3 reading program, leaving the rest of the bill to local school boards in what board president Sarah Meier called typical election-year politics.

"I don't know how many school board members are up for re-election, but it was OK for us to raise your taxes," she said.

The increase passed with relatively no debate. More than 50 residents came to the meeting, but just two commented on taxes.

• Murray Board of Education increased taxes for a 1 percent teacher raise and reading instruction, which members called their No. 1 priority.

Murray residents will pay about $27 more per year in property tax on a $150,000 home under the $14.1 million tax increase.

Utah Taxpayers Association Vice President Mike Jerman, among a handful of residents to speak, pleaded with the board to consider alternatives such as longer-term financing for buildings.

But board member Lloyd Naylor said the district must plan for the future.

"If we were to say no to this increase, we would be saying no to the reading program, saying no to putting monies into much-needed maintenance, and saying no to teachers who have not received a raise in three years, of which this year would only be 1 percent."

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Contributing: Jennifer Toomer-Cook, Tiffany Erickson, Leigh Dethman, Wendy Leonard.