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SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- Cities concerned about future tax hikes to pay for new schools outside their boundaries and possible school closures within them are considering seceding from the state's largest school district to form their own.
Armed with a new state law, Sandy, Cottonwood Heights, Holladay, South Salt Lake, West Jordan and West Valley City, are each considering abandoning the Jordan School District in favor of creating smaller school systems. Jordan is the state's largest district, with 77,000 students.
The prospect of a mass exodus worries school officials.
But one reason for the budding revolt boils down to simple self-interest economics: Residents in older, built-out cities don't want to pay for schools in newer, expanding suburbs.
That's unsettling and unwise, according to Jordan Superintendent Barry Newbold.
"There is, in my opinion, this responsibility and duty for us all to be invested in the common good," he said. "So, with those kinds of discussions going on, what I see is some erosion in some of those things that have helped us be strong as a democracy."
It also could make it difficult for existing districts to meet future demands.
"If Sandy withdrew from the district, it would be a real loss to Jordan School District," said Jordan School Board member Ellen Wallace, who represents most of Sandy. "We need those people. If we ever bond, we could do it for less for everybody."
Sandy leaders theorize their residents' property taxes are going to shoot up to pay for new west-side schools. They also suspect some Sandy schools might close. In short, they see their constituents paying more for less service.
Council members wondered aloud whether the city could negotiate a lower property tax rate or launch their own school district to protect their residents' pocketbooks.
"This would be a huge undertaking," Sandy Mayor Tom Dolan said. "We would have to have people dedicated to wanting to see a school district besides what Sandy City is saying. It's something we may as well talk about and look at."
If east-siders did break away, west-siders would balk. West-siders argue they have paid for decades for schools, roads, transit and other infrastructure on the east side. Now, it's time for east-siders to return the favor.
"This continuing theme is a little disconcerting," South Jordan City Manager Ricky Horst said, pointing to plans for a west-side toll road and increasing costs for west-side TRAX lines. "We've been there to support them, and they should be there to support us."
The new law allows communities with more than 65,000 residents to form their own districts. Smaller cities could band together with neighboring municipalities to reach the number. For instance, Cottonwood Heights could join with Sandy or Holladay.
However, Jordan School Board member J. Dale Christensen, who represents most of South Jordan and part of West Jordan, is skeptical that much will amount from all the discussions.
"I don't want to say there are not people legitimately interested, but for the most part once they're educated and once they find out what it takes, they'll give it a second thought."
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Information from: The Salt Lake Tribune www.sltrib.com
(Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
