ANNA CHANG-YEN - Daily Herald | Posted: Tuesday, March 14, 2006 11:00 pm
The Alpine School District wants taxpayers to approve the sale of more bonds to build and remodel schools but hopes to avoid a tax increase.
In 2001, voters approved a $200 million bond to build schools from Eagle Mountain to Orem. Now most of that work has been completed, and continued growth has kept classrooms full, particularly on the north end of the district.
More money is needed to build one high school in the Lehi/Saratoga Springs area, one or two middle schools in the north and west parts of the district, and four to six elementary schools in the north and west, said business administrator Rob Smith. The price tag would likely be between $200 million and $250 million, depending on what patrons tell the district they want at a series of upcoming public meetings. "After the public input meetings, then we'll refine the project list and refine the cost."
While the projects could potentially bump taxes up by $33 a year on a $200,000 home, Smith said, increases in property values are expected to keep the tax rate even.
"In actuality, as property values go up, the rate goes down, so we would push it back to the current rate."
A draft project list includes a major addition and remodeling at Pleasant Grove High School, and several other school additions and remodels, as well as seismic upgrades and rewiring.
The district also needs to raise money through taxes to operate the new schools. If the Board of Education approves the new bond election, it will be on the November ballot.
The district's enrollment has climbed by 8,950 students to 54,773 since 2000, and more growth is expected in the north part of the district.
Superintendent Vernon Henshaw said at a Board of Education study session on Tuesday that even with new charter schools opening in the area, the district still nearly hit its projection that it would add 8,000 to 10,000 students to its rosters during the last five years.
The district is planning ahead to have enough room for the 64,750 students it projects it will serve by 2010.
"It's a function of the number of students that come in, and we need to plan for the housing of those students," Smith said.
Anna Chang-Yen can be reached at 344-2549 or annac@heraldextra.com.
The public meetings will be held at 7 p.m. March 23 at Lone Peak High, 10189 N. 4800 West in Highland; March 30 at Pleasant Grove High, 700 E. 200 South; April 4 at Mountain View High, 665 W. Center St., Orem; and April 6, Lehi High, 180 N. 500 East.
This story appeared in The Daily Herald on page A1.