The Granite School Board is hoping a poll will help the district learn whether patrons would support a $256 million bond in this sour economy.

Board members debated Tuesday night whether to go forward with a Dan Jones & Associates poll that would cost the district up to $13,000.

The bond election could be as early as November.

The $256 million bond wouldn't mean a tax increase for Granite district patrons. The new bond would take the place of recently retired bonding, keeping taxes level. If there is no new bond, taxes would decrease by about $133 annually on a $250,000 home. The district would still be required to hold truth-in-taxation hearings to meet legal requirements to keep the tax rate level.

The bond money would help the district with its growth issues, as well as challenges in older buildings.

The funds would pay to build two new high schools; replace or rebuild Granger and Olympus high schools; build a new junior high school on the west side; build two elementary schools on the west side; rebuild or replace two elementary schools on the east side; and install air conditioning in older schools throughout the district.

The bond plan is based on facility needs, emphasized by public input from focus groups over the past two years.

Board members spoke with pollster Dan Jones a few weeks ago, and he warned that it's a bad time to bond because of the economic slump.

Granite District Superintendent Stephen Ronnenkamp said he has a lot of faith in Jones and agrees it might not be "the right environment" for a bond.

However, Ronnenkamp added, "the needs are getting greater, the buildings are getting older and we have some growth now."

Further, the district hasn't bonded since the early 1980s, he said.

Several board members debated Tuesday whether it's a waste of time and money to do a survey right now.

"It's a gamble on what the economy does," said Diane Meppen, project director with Dan Jones & Associates. Meppen presented a rough draft of the potential survey Tuesday night.

The board discussed various survey questions, including whether people favor a bond election and how much they would be willing to pay. Another question could include, if the patron opposes a bond election, whether it's because of finances or other reasons.

Meppen told board members that those polled might change their minds later about supporting a bond if the economy gets worse.

The board plans to discuss a revised version of the survey at its meeting June 16.

E-mail: astewart@desnews.com