Deseret News | Taxpayers' beef is with Legislature, not school board

Reader comments
Jay Evensen: Taxpayers' beef is with Legislature, not school board

Anonymous | 1:50 a.m. Aug. 9, 2009

Stephenson and the Utah Tax Payers Association are responsible for the whole mess.

Too bad they can't protest their own leader for a change!

Suggestions? | 7:28 a.m. Aug. 9, 2009

It's easy to say don't raise taxes, but what suggestions do you offer Mr. Evensen? From what I've heard over and over again, Jordan is down $1,000 per student compared to the Canyons. How can they recoup that much without some kind of tax increase? But I do agree that this whole mess is the brainchild of the Legislature who passed the law, especially Sen. Carlene Walker.

Johny Fairplay | 8:30 a.m. Aug. 9, 2009

Good editorial.

Comments continue below

Chuck | 9:56 a.m. Aug. 9, 2009

Jordan S.D. still has more funding than Alpine S.D. or Davis S.D. The Supt. ought to buck up and cut district administrators salaries, and then take a look at how these districts are doing things instead of trying to make everyone prejudiced against creating more community based school districts.

Chuck | 10:39 a.m. Aug. 9, 2009

One more thing. The Canyons decision not to raise taxes was not because they had lots of money. They made the changes that Jordan needs to and hasn't done yet. That made it possible to choose not to raise taxes. Jordan is trying to function like the old big district they were, but without the same tax base, which won't work. I don't know if they can make the changes necessary without also changing the district administration.

RE; Chuck | 11:34 a.m. Aug. 9, 2009

Chuck, we'll see what kind of changes the Canyons is making. I fear they will not be for the good. And yes, Alpine and Davis may have less funding, but they do not have millions of dollars to recoup from a district division. This split was not about district administration. It was about money. The fact that the Canyons is the only district in the county NOT raising taxes should tell you something. No other school district in the county would be raising taxes has this split never occurred. Best of luck in your Canyons kingdom.

uncannygunman | 12:20 p.m. Aug. 9, 2009

"People hate taxes, but they loathe property taxes. The thought that a government can force you to pay at the threat of losing your home strikes at the heart of security and freedom . . . ."

I think this is a good point (and I'm a tax-and-spend liberal!).

Seeking the truth | 12:49 p.m. Aug. 9, 2009

The Jordan School District began circulating information a year ago stating how it had $1,000 less per student than Canyons but after the Legislature passed the equalization law JSD never amended that information. Property taxes for education are now equalized for education in Salt Lake County, meaning that instead of having $1,000 less per student it is almost $11 million ahead of any other district in Salt Lake County. Salt Lake, Murray, Granite and Canyons are all paying for Jordan's students and growth, and Jordan District is the only receiver. It's strange that instead of thanking the Legislature and/or other districts for these funds, JSD continues to circulate outdated, biased information and keeps pointing fingers.

Oh, and btw, To Re; Chuck: Canyons will have to delay $4M in building needs to meet its equalization debt to Jordan District. But apparently Canyons decided it would rather do that than burden taxpayers. Also, by Jordan District's own account, the district division cost it $8M, while its layoffs (most of them bus drivers that Canyons rehired) saved JSD $8M -- a wash. So to keep blaming the split is pure nonsense -- even by JSD's own account.

Taxpayers Wake Up | 2:32 p.m. Aug. 9, 2009

Every taxpayer should review their school district's budget. You will discover that millions of dollars are being spent on highly-paid administrators whose positions are unnecessary. Why not ask our legislators to cap district salaries at that of the governor? Why not stop reelecting legislators who vote for bad legislation (like the district split)? Every west-side JSD legislator voted FOR the district split and then WAS REELECTED! If we want change in government, the voters hold their elected officials accountable.

Too little fire, Jay! | 3:14 p.m. Aug. 9, 2009

Oh you're such a "moderate" Jay!

I don't have the figures on property taxes that you seem to have, but I find taxes almost always go UP and that is bad.

The idea of taxing the roof over your head is evil. You started to get into that, maybe you will develop that thought?

You should not have to fight for your home — even when real estate values increase, because your income doesn’t always follow suit. THIS blatant move, though, is in a time of hardship has no such rationale!! Absolute arrogance!

A forty percent increase is not just "too much all at once"; it is draconian, unjust, and fundamentally wrong.

Taxes should be DECREASING; there's a radical thought. Government is too big. There are totally unnecessary programs and subjects taught at schools, top-heavy administrations....

How is it that governments and school districts always say in effect: we just can't manage on less. WE THE PEOPLE are FORCED to manage on less. Oh, but these big bodies have the power to put us in jail or evict us — and they know it! Can you say "unrighteous dominion"? Can you say "oppression"? Please say it!

Taxpayers beef is with the | 3:43 p.m. Aug. 9, 2009

legislature AND their school boards who are NOT representing them well. If they can't balance their budgets without hurting children, then their jobs should be cut.

RE: Seeking the truth | 5:35 p.m. Aug. 9, 2009

Too bad you don't state the truth. The money for equalization can only be used for capital expenses such as building new schools. It cannot be used to actually operate a school. So while that money will be nice for us in the west, it does not help our budget issue. The only nonsense being spouted about the split is your "truth." The split is to blame for this entire injustice of funds.

Seeking the truth | 6:12 p.m. Aug. 9, 2009

Why then is JSD raising its capital levy? Why not use the equalization money and save taxpayers an unneeded increase of 40% by not raising that levy? The equalization money would help your budget issue if JSD chose to use it instead of raising the capital levy. Instead it's using the equalization money to pad its fund balance.

The truth | 12:58 p.m. Aug. 10, 2009

For once, Evensen got it right.

Great job | 8:44 a.m. Aug. 11, 2009

After years of badmouthing you Jay, I ha ve tosay you hit the nail squarely on the head with this one.

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