S.L. County school districts cry foul over tax increases

Salt Lake County property owners will dole out $10.3 million in taxes to help pay for new schools in the Jordan School District in the next year under a new law. And for some parents who live in the Canyons, Granite, Salt Lake and Murray school districts, that seems unfair.

But according to lawmakers, that's the only way the state can help pay for the buildings the ever-growing Jordan School District needs.

The capital equalization law came out of the 2008 Legislative session and goes into effect this fiscal year.

Salt Lake, Granite and Murray districts had to implement a tax increase, meaning parents with schoolchildren are paying for education needs in another district. While the Canyons District didn't have to raise taxes, it did have to delay building renovations or upgrades scheduled for this school year to pay its equalization share.

"This is not a tax we requested, nor will it yield additional dollars to Salt Lake City School District. None of the estimated $5.7 million in increased revenues will benefit the school children of Salt Lake City," the Salt Lake District board said in a written statement. "Adding insult to injury, this required redistribution of property tax proceeds comes in a year when a dwindling economy has already forced deep cuts to the district budget."

Salt Lake District leaders, along with other opponents of the law, are working toward a repeal of the law during the 2009 session. "There is a lot of unrest," said Murray District superintendent Richard Tranter.

Amid massive outcry to this school funding "equalization plan," Sen. Howard Stephenson, R-Draper, is proposing a bill he hopes will mollify opponents. He wants to instigate rules for how the receiving district would spend cash that comes from the other districts.

The five school districts in Salt Lake County are just learning of Stephenson's proposal. He presented it during Wednesday's Legislative Education Interim meeting.

The equalization plan was initially pitched as a statewide program – not just for Salt Lake County school districts. Representatives from several of the affected districts said they were unhappy with the plan. A spokesperson at the Canyons pointed out that buildings in the district are on average 39 years old and need millions of dollars' worth of repairs and renovations to meet seismic standards.

"At the same time, Canyons District is paying $3.8 million in building funds to Jordan School District this year under the state equalization law. This hampers Canyons' efforts to address its own building needs," a Canyons spokesperson said in a written response.