Comments about ‘2 building equalization bills OK'd by ed task force’

The writer's story is a bit convoluded, and it misses the point that MOST districts will pay money into the pot, while only five districts will get to draw money out.

Worst of all, this facade called "equalization" was created to facilitate the split of two large districts - Jordan and Granite - yet the bill does not "equalize" the burden of building new schools on the growing west side of the Granite District. In fact, according to information on Granite's website, after a split its west side would have LESS money for new schools.

Equalization is a sham, pure and simple. The supposedly new funding for this bill comes straight out of income taxes, ie classroom funds, while existing funding is just moved around between the districts. Beyond that, the bills fail to address one of the underlying concerns driving the move to split large districts - the diversion of funding from maintenance (usually of east side schools) to construction (primarily for west side schools). Unless the legislation allows cities some input into how the funds are divvied up, expect significant resistance to the bill from them. If such a provision is included, expect the districts to howl about autonomy, etc. Either way, even with a special session, there are enough disparate interests with dogs in this hunt that the chances of anything passing are really quite remote. As it should be.

A past legislature created school growth problems years ago. First they made impact fees illegal. That meant school districts would have to scramble to borrow funds to build new schools to service new growth. We are now that fast growth phase. Second they did not create a plan so school districts could naturally divide into manageable and accountaable sizes.

It seems to me this legislature is the first that has had the guts to face the school growth issue square in the face and the solution to equalize is the best long term solution. Kudos to these creative legislators.

Teha Rangi again you are playing with the facts. It is NOT just 5 districts that will gain. It does go along way to equalize either the county or the state depending on which bill. It doesn't completely do the job, but it helps. Those in fast growing areas spend their money in Salt Lake City and other areas making their tax base higher, but they get none of it back. That has been going on too long and isn't fair.

Regardless of the district division issue, WE NEED TO EQUALIZE THE BUILDING SIDE OF THE BUDGET as we have already done with the rest of the budget. The current system isn't fair! If you oppose equalizing just to stop the district division, you either don't care about fair education or you are being hypocritical.