Granite, Jordan look at spending $1 billion

The state's two largest school districts are looking at spending about $1 billion combined in the coming year — one, with the help of a tax increase.

The Granite Board of Education Tuesday is considering a tentative $455.5 million budget, which includes a 3 percent teacher pay hike; $5.3 million to cover rising health insurance costs; and $5.2 million to finish paying off the Granite Education Center and make the district debt-free.

The budget includes a decrease in the basic property tax, providing about $10 in tax relief on a $191,000 house. But it increases the recreation tax by $8.30 on the same priced house to cover costs of community use of district facilities. It also hikes the capital outlay tax by $2.52 to purchase buses for hazardous routes.

Overall, taxes on a $191,000 house would go up about 50 cents. District property taxes would total about $709 on a $191,000 house, below the state average of $723 on the same priced house.

"We feel that Granite is fiscally responsible and has been for years," said Mitch Robison, budget development director.

The district will hold a public truth-in-taxation hearing, tentatively scheduled for Aug. 2, as required by law.

Meanwhile, the Jordan Board of Education, overseeing the state's largest school district, approved a $590 million budget, including $7.6 million for a 3 percent teacher pay raise — the first for all district teachers in three years.

The budget includes $300,000 to reduce class size a half a student in first grade; $400,000 for textbooks and supplies; and $70 million for building projects, including the completion of four schools and preliminary construction work on new elementaries in Draper and Herriman.

Contract negotiations, meanwhile, continue with the district's classified employees association.

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