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Show Viewpoints The Park Record. Tax bump may not be pleasant, but it’s what’s best for county y m d I s s . d t e g guest editorial Neighbors will be hurt by the Colby School property vote e n . , g e rJESSIE BOST sPark City t The night of December 12 was not eok. I am totally disappointed in the esystem. We tried to play by the rules. We researched, and rallied support. eWe educated ourselves and attended every meeting and work session. We tmet with planners, we collected a petition. We did our best to create a single voice, avoid public clamor and deliver the facts. All while doing so in a calm, respectful manner towards counsty staff, planning commissioners and dthe Colby project applicants. We, my neighbors and I, did all of this while working full time jobs without attorneys or deep pockets of money. We did this to protect a community that I personally have lived in PC for longer than most of the people who showed e e w — n e . t e t d o - Sat/Sun/Mon/Tues, December 16-19, 2017 editorial , x . 0 n o n . A-19 The Park Record Staff PUBLISHER ....................... Andy Bernhard Editor ................................... Bubba Brown Staff Writers ......................Jay Hamburger Scott Iwasaki Angelique McNaughton Ben Ramsey Carolyn Webber Contributing ............................. Tom Clyde Writers Jay Meehan Teri Orr Amy Roberts Tom Kelly Joe Lair Nan Chalat Noaker Copy Editor ............................ James Hoyt Engagement Editor.........Kira Hoffelmeyer Photographer .........................Tanzi Propst Office Manager ....................Tiffany Rivera Circulation Manager ............. Lacy Brundy Accounting Manager ......... Jennifer Snow ADVERTISING Classifieds/Legals ............. Jennifer Lynch Advertising Director ........... Valerie Spung Advertising Sales ......................... Lori Gull Jodi Hecker Erin Donnelly Lisa Curley Olivia Bergmann Digital Products ..................... Mike Boyko Manager Production Director ..................Ben Olson Production ...................... Nadia Dolzhenko Patrick Schulz Linda Sites up to support this project, combined. All of planning commissioners seemed concerned about mitigation, yet they approved the enlargement of uses and doubling of commercial square footage anyway — and the best part about it is that they get to go home. I can’t “go home”, I live here, I am connected to this project even more so then the owners of the property are as my living room is 100ft away from their nearest building. Maybe I should have gone “off script” and thrown in a little clamor of my own. Because here’s the deal: when they were renting out that building to workers, it was myself and next door neighbors who were woken up at 3 a.m. by loud conversations taking place back there, not the applicants. We called the sheriffs’ department, not them. When the workout classes base “thump-thumps” every morning at 6 a.m., we hear it, not the applicants. The fact is, the vote that happened on December 12, places mitigation efforts squarely on the shoulders of me and my neighbors because the property owners get to go home at night. All those people who spoke in favor of the project get to work out, have lunch and leave. I can’t because someone has to be around to tow the cars and call the cops, or what? just deal with it?? The planning commission just paved the road to full commercial density — the whole enchilada on a hope and prayer that they can properly mitigate. Did I mention that they go home? So really, you approved this on a hope and a prayer that us neighbors mitigate their problems. I know we can file complaints, request a review for removal of the CUP... but I want a different hobby... What happened at that meeting was very, very sad. A new generation of Park City residents, with money to spend, and tax revenue to collect, steamrolling some of the original generations that made the Park City the town the newbies fell in love with, and now the very people who created that are being set aside for the sake of what, more development? If the county really believed in this application, it should have been rezoned because basically, the Colby Project has just been approved everything else that goes along a commercial zoning on their RR lot. For the record t won’t be fun for anybody in Summit County to open their property tax bills next fall and see a rate increase. Nonetheless, the County Council made the right decision Wednesday when it voted to raise property taxes as part of the 2018 budget. Officials say the hike will cost primary residents in unincorporated parts of the county approximately $34.90 annually per $100,000 of taxable home value, while those in municipalities will pay $19.50. It represents a roughly 5.5 to 7 percent bump for the average homeowner. The numbers are significant. The benefits residents will receive, though, are well worth the cost. With the additional tax revenue, the county will be able to maintain service levels in areas such as law enforcement and road repair and will be in a position to continue the push toward dramatically increasing mental health awareness and services. The money will also go toward initiatives like increasing affordable housing, sustainability and improving transportation. Important efforts, all — and ones that, in a community like ours, fall squarely in the category of needs, as opposed to wants. There was a lot of concern from the public during the county’s Truth in Taxation process that tax hikes or proposed increases are seemingly coming from every direc- tion these days. The South Summit School District tried, and ultimately failed, this fall to get residents to pony up for a new high school. A similar — and likely more costly — effort from the Park City School District may still be looming in the near future. And Park City’s recently announced deal with Treasure hinges on voters signing off on a $24 million bond measure next November, which comes on the heels of a $25 million one in 2016 to save Bonanza Flat. It adds up quickly, and many residents say the burden is beginning to weigh heavy. Public officials would do well to take that feedback seriously, particularly when it comes from working-class folks on fixed or tight incomes. But each tax hike must be considered on its own merits. And Summit County’s is deserving of support. As well as the necessity of the services the increase will pay for, county officials were transparent throughout the process, providing residents with plenty of information and ample opportunity to voice their opinions. It helped the Council’s cause that officials have been good stewards of taxpayer dollars over the years. In fact, Summit County’s general tax rate is currently the lowest in the state. Taken together, those justifications should make residents who care about our community willing to pay the increase — even if they won’t exactly add up to a pleasant experience next fall when it comes time to foot the bill. guest editorial All stakeholders have role to play in Park City’s education master-planning process MEG LEAF, JO ANN FUNSETH, JAMES TEDFORD, AND CHUCK AND SARAH KLINGENSTEIN Park City Education is a hot topic around the nation and locally because it shapes how the world works. In the U.S., citizens have a voice in shaping and improving their school districts through elected Boards of Education. The Park City School District is entering a new cycle of master planning. Details to be considered during the process include enrollment projections, demographic profile of students, programs, curriculum, transportation, schedules, outstanding projects, school sites, facilities, and funding. All stakeholders will have a voice. The process will result in a much needed timeline with key milestones and objectives. Our Board has recently contracted with Collaborative Learning Network, LLC, to direct this effort. While some concern has been expressed with recent changes in our Board and district leadership, changes are not much different than what the district has experienced in the past. During the last ten years there have been at least 16 different Board members and three superintendents. Each of our Boards has altered policies; each superintendent has altered the composition of staff for better or worse. Change is imminent in pubic education. Moving forward and focusing on our district’s future is paramount to our children’s education. Implementing the district master plan will require engagement of all stakeholders to be successful. We all have a role in shaping the future of education in Park City. Everyone should consider their areas of expertise and interest in public education and be prepared to contribute. The Board is seeking to engage the community early and often. Our Board members welcome you to the table! With regard to public engagement, the National School Boards Association (www.nsba.org) states that “By focusing on raising student achievement through strong local governance and by actively engaging the community, school boards provide leadership for academic success in our public schools.” Our Board of Education is a representative body elected by our citizens to provide for and oversee the operation of our public schools. Members aim to work hard, work intelligently, and work together in the best interest of our students with emphasis on listening to our community. Why the community? Because the first policy under the Board of Education Power and Duties is, “Directly accountable to the people, local school boards are the educational policymakers for the public schools in local communities and may serve as the final appeal body in school administrative matters.” A collaborative process among all stakeholders (board, leadership, staff, students, parents, community and district partners) is crucial to the effective management of our schools. First, it provides opportunities to share knowledge, resources, research, and experience. Second, it allows Board members and district leadership to listen, learn, and apply data to improve education. Finally, it provides for a positive working environment to effect real and measurable progress through a thorough, documented, and transparent planning and implementation process for our district. You can engage with our Board members at meetings, one-on-one, through committees, or by email. Visit www. pcschools.com, and click the School Board tab to explore recent activities and documents. letter to the editor Congress should consider a meat tax Editor: With Congressional Republicans rushing to place a new tax bill on President’s Trump’s desk before Christmas, here comes the respected British publication The Guardian suggesting a new source of tax revenue — meat. Yes, a tax on meat, to beat the health and climate crises. The concept is hardly radical. We already pay taxes on tobacco, alcohol, sugary sodas, plastic bags, and other consumables that afflict the public health and other social costs. The revenue would reimburse Medicare, Medicaid and other government health care programs for treating victims of chronic diseases that have been linked conclusively with consumption of animal products. It would contribute to the costs of restoring air and water quality and wildlife habitats that have been devastated by production of these items. Benjamin Franklin noted that nothing is certain except death and taxes. However, death can be deferred substantially by taxing the very products that make us sick. Paxton Ryker Prospector Photos by Kira Hoffelmeyer Asked at Fresh Market in Park City How much would you be willing to pay in additional property taxes for Park City to buy 50 percent of Treasure? Why? I a . p s Debbie Stafsholt Park City I’d be willing to pay $300. I think it’s something ,good to do for the town. é Hans Kuhni Park City I would pay as much as it takes. My taxes are already high. If they could reach a deal to buy all of their (Treasure) development credit, I’d be happy to do that. Laney Stevens Oakley While I’m not a property tax payer in Park City, I do think it’s a good idea to do that. It keeps open land while also allowing us to grow and develop. Patricia Vawdrey Park City I would be willing to pay more as long as it didn’t substantially cut into my lifestyle, and I don’t think they could raise it enough to do that. I think $500 a year could be reasonable. See these photos and more by following The Park Record on Facebook.com/parkrecord and Instagram.com/parkrecord |