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RIVERTON — Residents living in the Jordan School District got their last chance in a public meeting to ask questions ahead of the school board vote on a tax increase to fund teacher raises.
The Monday event was the last of three open house-style meetings aimed at addressing residents’ concerns and questions. The meeting only lasted an hour, but easily could have gone longer, as things got a bit tense inside the Riverton High School auditorium.
The item up for debate is a property tax increase of $20 for every $100,000 of a home’s value within the district.
“I support teachers getting pay raises but enough is enough,” said resident Corey Nebeker. “This is seven people deciding how much money they are going to take from our checks.”
If it passes, the tax jump would nudge teacher’s starting pay up to $48,000 and give a raise of about $6,000 per year for all teachers — something some in attendance say needs to happen to retain quality educators.
“The vote has to be yes or (we) will lose teachers to other districts,” said Shirleen Larsen, a teacher and mother of students living within the district boundaries. “The other districts have not given the public as much input as Jordan has. Everywhere else, it’s passing.”
The last time the school board raised taxes was back in 2009. Only two districts in the state spend less than the Jordan School District.
“I just see waste all over the district,” Nebeker added.
The board will vote on the issue next Tuesday, August 6 in a public meeting.
