Deseret News | Reader comments: Districts may share the wealth

Reader comments
Districts may share the wealth

Chuck | 7:51 a.m. Feb. 11, 2008

This creation of a new district didn't create new problems. It brought to the forefront problems that were already there. Alpine already has less tax base and more need than the west side of Jordan District, and that was being ignored. We, as a state, have severly underfunded school buildings, because there is no one to advocate for them like a union. We need very much to increase funding to buildings and equalize it like the rest of the budget.

anonymous | 7:58 a.m. Feb. 11, 2008

Because Utah has so many children per capita, we have more children in schools than in other states. Maybe it's time to admit that we are going to have to do more than just equalize property taxes. Elderly people are losing their homes because of the great increase in home value. We could certainly fund school buildings out of the surplus. Let districts keep the property taxes to fund upkeep and programs. The state can afford to build the new buildings, funds should be perminently from previously non-education funds so that our children get a decent place to go to school.

Anonymous | 8:04 a.m. Feb. 11, 2008

Jordan wants some one elses cake and eat their own. Utah needs a statewide property tax rebellion. The districts need to run their districts and quit playing kindergarden and begging off the rest of the state. Sales tax would be more equitable to all.

Comments continue below

Stop them now | 8:39 a.m. Feb. 11, 2008

So my property taxes in Granite School District, which is operating free of bonded debt, should go somewhere else? Then to make ends meet, Granite will have to pass bonds and go back into debt. Gee thanks, legislature. You are really forward-thinking.

Bombadil | 9:42 a.m. Feb. 11, 2008

If you want to turn a horse pasture into housing in Herriman, you pay for your own schools. This is what the whole Jordan split was about, folks paying property taxes in Sandy wanting to keep those funds in their neighborhood schools. This is just another way to be piggish. Your urban sprawl is not my problem. These folks are the same people who downed vouchers. What's the difference? You are talking about taking my tax funds that should go to my children's education and allocating them for someone else.

Bombadil | 9:46 a.m. Feb. 11, 2008

By the way, no one thinks it's questionable that a davis county legislator wants to push a bill that will bring 7 million additional dollars to Davis school district and suck an equal amount out of Salt Lake county? Hmmmmm.

an outside opinion | 10:35 a.m. Feb. 11, 2008

Why isn't there a larger assesment when the house is built? It makes sense to me that if there are new houses being built largely in one area that the people in that area should pay for the school in that neighborhood.

Testy | 10:57 a.m. Feb. 11, 2008

East side leaders, Rep Curtis in large part, cut the west side, now after promised equalization to west side leaders and legislators, waters down the equailzation.

We need a West side Govner and Legislative leaders. It is so see through, West side toll roads, Tom Dolan/Sandy Soccer stadiums, hurtful district splits.

WEST SIDE WAKE UP! Don't vote for Huntsman and get involved in the Curtis re-election, don't let either of these 2 east side powers get re-elected!

Vouchers? | 11:44 a.m. Feb. 11, 2008

Would vouchers have been a good solution to this type of problem?

School impact fees | 2:46 p.m. Feb. 11, 2008

Simple solution: Growth ought to pay for growth

jon | 4:49 p.m. Feb. 11, 2008

It is too bad that all of these questions weren't figured out before the Jordan District voted to split. I wonder if we would have had the same result if the east side had realized their property taxes would be going up now too?
I think the Salt Lake County Council recognized this and that is why they voted no to the split. Then the legislature met in a special session and disqualified the council's vote, so the "power groups" behind the split could proceed with the vote.

Also, I don't think it is quite right to say that the east side was left with nothing and the west side got all of the funds. The east side of Jordan got a lot of the funds(80%) for fixing up old schools and upgrading auditoriums, etc. The west side only got around 20% of those funds.

Karen | 5:10 p.m. Feb. 11, 2008

No, vouchers would not have been a good solution. Period.

Fred | 7:34 p.m. Feb. 11, 2008

Impact fees, that is what the communities used to do until some of our part time legislators, who were full time real estate agents rewrote the law

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