Little support for bond issue

Chris O'Nan

Oct. 30, 2009 (McClatchy-Tribune Regional News delivered by Newstex) -- Davis County property owners who oppose the $250 million school bond referendum say year-round schedules and portable classrooms should be employed by the Davis district before debt is considered for new school construction.

"They could go to year-round schedules first," said Duwayne Warren, of Layton.

"I look at our economy right now and feel we need to wait and try some of our other options."

Davis School District spokesman Chris Williams said year-round schedules and more portables are the only answers to overcrowding if voters don't pass the bond request.

"That is a fact," Williams said. "There would be no other avenue to take if student population growth continues at 1,000 students a year, as estimated."

Warren, who resides near Kaysville, said his family lives right in the middle of all the growth and his children have not spent more than two years in one school.

"Our children have been moved all over," he said.

"But I see growth slowing. Very few new homes are being built now, and the schools are accommodating the students they have."

Others say new revenue streams should be developed, or that less money should be spent on new stateof-the-art schools.

Wyndell Masopust, of Syracuse, said economic development should bring more commercial development to the area to increase property tax revenues that pay for school construction.

"We don't need to add more debt, not in this economy," he said.

"We are all suffering from the economy right now."

Superintendent Bryan Bowles said 70 percent of the district's budget goes toward instruction, which includes teacher salaries, books and supplies.

He said administrator salaries only make up about one percent of the entire budget. Bowles acknowledged that Davis County is very lean on commercial property that would bring in higher property tax revenues than residential property does.

"We are one of the poor counties because we don't have a big commercial base," Bowles said. "We are mostly residential. About 45 percent of the working population in Davis County leaves to work in other counties."

The Utah Tax Payers Association has held a neutral position on the bond.

Masopust pointed out that debt from previous bond issues is still being paid back.

Williams said the district's outstanding debt includes bond issues in 1997, 2002 and 2006.

Williams said that entire debt will not be retired until 2023. He said an additional bond issue would extend the debt payment over more years.

Williams said going to a year-round schedule would increase capacity at a school by a fourth or a third. Currently, only four of Davis County's 84 schools are on a year-round schedule.

Williams said each new portable would accommodate 30 students per class period scheduled there.

"We wish there was something magical out there that we could turn to," Williams said. "The money assessed to build schools is based on property taxes."

Jared Geilman, of Farmington, said he is concerned that the district's debt has become uncontrolled, with not enough long-term planning that includes funding other than indebtedness.

"There has to be some kind of control," he said.

"They will make way for issuing bonds and then wait. By the time they issue them, construction costs could be back up, and as high as ever."

Neil Robins said he is concerned that school designs being used are more expensive than necessary.

"I don't think they are even considering keeping building costs down," he said.

Others who plan to support the bond issue said they don't see any other way around the overcrowding issue.

"I guess we have to do it," said Kelly Streeper, of South Weber. "Schools are getting more crowded."

Kevin Burton, of Kaysville, said he is against adding more commercial property to the area, and he supports building more schools.

"It is a different environment, the more commercial you have," he said.

"I think education is one of the most important things they could be spending money on."

Newstex ID: KRTB-0146-39302048