Votes split on school tax increase
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1 Comment [ View ]By BROOKE NELSON
Standard-Examiner staff
OGDEN -- Ogden School Board members split on a vote to increase taxes but united in their frustration at the state Legislature because of a bill that redirected school funding.
Senate Bill 2 requires school districts to give a portion of property tax funding to the state, which then distributes the money to charter schools.
"The Legislature has passed the buck," said board member Rick Noorda. "We're all shooting for student success. How can students excel if things are constantly being taken away from them?"
He voted in favor of the increase.
Board member Brad Smith called the bill "extremely poor legislation," and Jennifer Zundel said she views it as "taxation without representation." Both Smith and Zundel voted against the increase.
Money already designated to be spent by elected school boards will now be spent by someone else, the board members said.
"It transfers sacred public funds, that we are accountable for, to entities that have no political oversight," Smith said. "I urge the Legislature to pursue a less politically gutless approach."
The Ogden district will lose $132,000 because of the bill.
Wednesday's truth-in-taxation hearing resulted in a 4-3 board vote to raise taxes to recover the lost money. The approved rate means a $3.36 increase on a $148,000 home.
Even with the increase, the new rate is still 8.8 percent lower than last year's, but it is legally considered an increase because it is two-thirds of a percent higher than the established certified rate.
Christina Morales, who voted in favor of the increase, said deciding to raise taxes is never easy but replacing the lost funding was the right thing to do.
Board member Joyce Wilson voted in favor of the increase.
"I see no reason to penalize the children because of poor legislation," she said.
Zundel said she disagrees with the legislation.
"You have taxes that are being taken from the public and then given to a group where they have no voice," she said. "I have a big problem with that."
Board member John Gullo also voted against the tax increase in light of current economic difficulties.
"The best foot forward is not to nickel and dime but to be fiscally responsible. I think it is a mistake to go after such a small amount of money," he said.
The impact of the lost money is less than 1 percent of the district's overall budget.
Statewide, the bill will provide $3.4 million in property tax funding to charter schools.
This money is separate from the per-pupil funding redirected from school districts by the state to fund charter schools -- $2,577 per student.
Board members and school officials said they have no problem with the Legislature funding charter schools but strongly disagree with the way the Legislature has chosen to do so in regards to property taxes.
"My issue is not with charter schools, but with this piece of legislation," said Superintendent Noel Zabriskie.
Board president Don Belnap voted in favor of the tax increase and said he would support a board effort to contact local legislators and express concern about Senate Bill 2.
Add Your Comment
The legislation costs the district $132K. How much is the district saving by not having to hire teachers and build new buildings for the charter school students? $132K is about the cost of 3 teachers for 1 year. I think they are saving more than it costs them. IMHO
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