From Deseret News archives:

Equalization = winners, losers

Jordan-west to benefit; some tax hikes are likely

Published: Saturday, March 1, 2008 12:11 a.m. MST
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Salt Lake County taxpayers: Open your wallets.

Unless you're on the west side of Jordan School District. Then, you can fold yours up a little.

The House on Friday approved a so-called school building equalization bill, brought on by the Jordan District split. But the bill mostly spreads $15 million in one-time money to every Utah school district except Park City, which has the state's heftiest tax base. And the only property tax equalization is in Salt Lake County, where four school districts would have to pony up to give the new Jordan-west district $12 million.

That essentially guarantees property tax hikes in Murray, Salt Lake City and Granite District and the Jordan-east district.

Last November, east-side voters decided to secede from the state's largest district, taking more than half the tax base but fewer than half the kids. That left the growing west side with huge student enrollment growth and small means to pay for new schools. Lawmakers saw that coming last summer but could not resolve the matter in an August special session. They vowed to take care of it now.

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SB48, substituted for a fifth time Friday and amended on top of that, raises the state school building aid fund to just over $42 million.

The big winners would be Davis with $8.6 million (about $2 million more than it's getting now;) Nebo District, with $7 million ($3 million more than now;) and Tooele with $5.6 million (nearly $4 million more than the current amount.) Jordan more than triples what it's getting now, to $1.8 million, and Washington District's $1.5 million would be nearly four times its current funding.

But Alpine's $2.6 million is about half what it received this school year, raising questions among some House Republicans.

"It spreads the additional funding of $15 million out more fully through our state, creates many more winners and does not appreciatively injure anyone," said Rep. Kay McIff, R-Richfield. "I think it will serve our state well."

But several Salt Lake County representatives disagree with the rest of the bill, which hits up Salt Lake area districts to help out Jordan-west.

"(We're) creating a system right now that is for the benefit of one school district where the majority of people in that area voted to split (the school district) ... my residents are going to be impacted by that decision. They did not get a voice in that vote, yet they are going to be punished," said Rep. David Litvack, D-Salt Lake City. "I think we're fooling ourselves if we think we're addressing equalization. We know this must be addressed on a statewide level."

Recent comments

Wrong. Take a look at the data on the state office of education...

RE: Missing data | March 3, 2008 at 9:24 p.m.

You assume that those district not listed have higher taxable value...

Missing data | March 3, 2008 at 10:50 a.m.

Look closely at the feasibility study. The remaining Jordan District...

RE: RE: RE: Missing the point | March 3, 2008 at 8:19 a.m.

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