From Deseret News archives:
West Jordan may vote on own school district
Results of feasibility study encourage elected leaders
Buoyed by preliminary results of a feasibility study, West Jordan elected leaders are backing away from previous claims that the city would break away from the Jordan School District only if east-side cities do the same.
"I see some real value in (splitting from the district) even if the east-side cities don't pull out," Mayor David Newton said in an interview Friday. "If it's good for West Jordan, regardless of what happens on the east side, should we go ahead with it? That's what we have to decide."
Consultants from Lewis Young Robertson & Burningham Inc. on Friday gave the West Jordan City Council an advance look at the firm's findings on the feasibility of creating a new school district within city boundaries.
The new district would require a property tax increase of between 10 percent and 25 percent in West Jordan, no matter what happens on the east side, according to principal consultant Jason Burningham.
West Jordan likely will overcome that discrepancy through commercial growth, he said, but that could take about five to 10 years.
Newton said the tax increase was expected, and even at the highest possible increase needed, the tax rate would remain within the statutory limit set by the state.
West Jordan's southwest Salt Lake County neighbors would be the ones taking the biggest hit if the city and the east-side contingents break away from the Jordan School District.
Those departures would necessitate tax increases of 25 percent to 30 percent for cities in the remaining Jordan School District South Jordan, Riverton, Herriman and Bluffdale, all high-growth areas anticipating huge capital project needs.
Newton said he's hoping that problem will be addressed by the ongoing effort at the state level to equalize capital funding for schools throughout the state.
"That would make (splitting from the school district) a much easier decision," Newton said. "It's not fair to put that burden on just those cities."
The study also uncovered one possible hangup in West Jordan's plans: A city-only school district would leave 12 students living in Taylorsville and Murray without a school district.
Comments
- Students from abroad come to Utah 12:26 a.m.
- Sports on the air 12:18 a.m.
- Sports briefs 12:17 a.m.
- Editorial: Red flags at Fort Hood 12:14 a.m.
- Rid Capitol Hill of 'roaches' 12:14 a.m.
- Health proposal not 'reform' 12:14 a.m.
- Afterthoughts 12:14 a.m.
- Letters: No Nativity in D.C. 12:13 a.m.
- Letters: Big picture in Highland 12:13 a.m.
- Letters: Jazz's time will come 12:13 a.m.
- BYU happy to escape with victory
230 - TCU creams U.
225 - Editorial: Mormons and gay rights
206 - Will state consider gay rights law?
149 - Can BYU root for (ick) Utah Utes?
131 - RSL heads to MLS title game
125 - Utes remain silent about BCS
120 - Celtics crush Jazz
104 - TCU stays 4th in AP; Y. 19th, U. 23rd
97 - 3A: Hurricane advances to title game
88
Sears is holding a special VIP night Sunday, Nov. 15, in stores and online.
How do you handle kids and contests? Our oldest daughter, 7, is of the...
I don't see the schools presidents voting to get rid of WYM or NM, even...
why people complain about how football is covered by the media too much. when...
A little perspective is not a bad thing. Notice the Cougar's won loss record...
I actually was encouraged by some aspects of the game. Any Utah fan who has...
A story about Mormons as minorities? In this paper? Get over the "victim"...
she was an awesome woman someone i looked up to when i was younger she was...
Wow you just made one of the dumbest comments I've heard yet. Fire Bronco????...
Re: Huh?, You like many other haters are probably oblivious to many obvious...
KJW. Are you serious? What more did you expect from Max Hall? World Peace?...
Pipe down! He's had three straight 10 win season and is on track for his 4th....

You can be the first to comment on this story.