Alpine schools worried about tax-hike 'fatigue'

Northern Utah County residents are being asked to approve three tax increases Nov. 7, and the superintendent of the Alpine School District hopes that doesn't hurt two of the proposed hikes that would build and operate schools.

"That's a concern to us," Superintendent Vern Henshaw told the Deseret Morning News' editorial board Wednesday about the district being hurt by three tax hike proposals on the same ballot. "That's possible" that it won't pass.

The school district is asking the voters to increase the voted leeway property tax levy to generate an extra $4.6 million and permit the issuance of $230 million in bonds — both of which would increase property taxes by $57.86 after four years on a $200,000 house. In addition, the Utah Transit Authority is asking voters to approve a quarter-cent sales tax increase to raise money for commuter rail between Provo and the Salt Lake County line.

Despite the UTA tax proposal, Henshaw said the school district could not postpone a bond election because of the urgent need to build new schools.

As of Oct. 1, the district enrolled 56,215 students. It projects 64,750 students by 2010.

Over the next five years, the district wants to build a new high school in Saratoga Springs. If the school district bond passes, it will also build two middle schools and five elementary schools in the north and west parts of the district, where new families are moving into new homes.

Other schools throughout the district will be remodeled and receive additions to eliminate portable classrooms with bond money.

The extra money from the leeway would be used to pay salaries and utilities at the new schools. Some of the leeway money will also be used for professional development, Henshaw said.

"We're planning to build for growth that is here and growth that will come," Henshaw said.

If enrollment does not increase as projected, the district will slow down its building schedule, business administrator Rob Smith said.

In June, five Utah school districts sought voter approval for bond issuances and voted leeway increases. All measures passed except the leeway increase in Washington County, Alpine Board of Education President JoDee Sundberg noted.

With that precedent, Sundberg is confident the Alpine bond will pass.

"We feel the climate is good," she said. "People see the need."

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E-mail: lhancock@desnews.com