From Deseret News archives:
S. Jordan officials not pushing for own school district
Instead, the City Council decided Tuesday night to circulate an informative document that summarizes the results of a feasibility study on forming a South Jordan school district and then gather public input.
"I'm not saying that the splitting of the district isn't a big issue, but for South Jordan to split off from the (remaining Jordan School District), I don't see a lot of support for that," Mayor Kent Money said.
The city commissioned the feasibility study in September in response to the possibility of losing east-side cities from the Jordan School District. November's election allowed east-side voters to choose to form an east-side-only school district; and as a result, it is expected that South Jordan's property taxes will be raised 18 percent to compensate for the loss of the east-side's property tax values.
If South Jordan chooses to form its own school district, it is estimated it will cost an additional 8 percent, above the 18 percent, for the city's taxpayers. The move could also be detrimental to Bluffdale, Herriman and Riverton, which would have to shoulder a massive tax increase to support their fraction of a school district, according to the study.
"I don't want to do the same thing that the east side has done to us," Money said. "I think we're better off as the communities on the west side work together, along with the existing (Jordan School District) school board to create a district that is better than it was."
The city has no further plans to pursue a new school district at this point, but the City Council says it will be looking for input from residents on the issue.
The city plans to post the information document, which highlights the impact of school district fragmentation and raises further issues for consideration, on the city's Web site, www.southjordancity.org.
E-mail: achoate@desnews.com
