A Granite split divisive

A split of the Granite School District would make financial sense for the east-side cities and townships wanting to break away but would create a bleak situation for the west side, according to a study released today.

A feasibility study commissioned by Holladay, South Salt Lake and Salt Lake County shows that a smaller east-side school district would have more money per student than the existing Granite district and would not require a property-tax increase.

As for those that would be left behind on the west side, property taxes would be forced to skyrocket to manage the growth rate and new school construction.

The study, done by Salt Lake City-based Wikstrom Economic & Planning Consultants Inc., analyzed short- and long-term feasibility through 2020 of financial impacts for both the proposed new district and the remaining district. Granite School District officials were not involved in the study, a district spokesman said.

After several school closures and some near-closures last year, Holladay, South Salt Lake and the county began studying the idea of splitting from the massive Granite School District and forming their own smaller, east-side district.

The study is one of two that have been commissioned by elected leaders on the east side of Salt Lake County. Cottonwood Heights, Draper, Sandy, Alta, Midvale and the county also have approved their own study, which is set to be released May 1.

The Granite study will go through a string of presentations, beginning at Tuesday's Salt Lake County Council meeting. A series of public hearings also will be held, beginning May 17 at Holladay City Hall.

"No new school construction will be needed" for the proposed east-side district, according to the study. "Operations and capital needs of the new district can be funded with no need for a property tax increase and the potential for a property tax decrease."

The remaining Granite School District, which would consist of West Valley City, Taylorsville, Kearns, Magna and a small part of West Jordan, would not be feasible, "unless some form of financial mitigation can be identified," according to the study.

"There is no question that this will raise some challenging issues as to how to go forward, if we do go forward, and if so how can we do it fairly," Holladay City Councilman Lynn Pace said. "I don't know how to do that."

Taylorsville Mayor Russ Wall wasn't aware that the study was complete when reached for comment Thursday, but he said he didn't need to see it to know that it's bad news for Taylorsville.