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Show JTVfl 4S7 EAST PSS33 ASSS. 00 30. S'! ATS SALT LAKS CHT, UTAH OUU A L SEPTEMBER 18, 1980 THURSDAY, el' . ; 26 Pages -- VOLUME 7 EIGHTY-TW- NUMBER O TWENTY-EIGH- T , Tax Association Blasts Schools On Leeway Vote funds that should've been eliminated when state equaliza- By TOM BUSSELBERG tion came into play, Mr. (Editors Note: An interview Stephenson said. And because of that equalization monej local residents directly pay one h the cost of their districts budget, the other 80 per-ce- was held with a staff member of the Utah Taxpayers Association last week. He voiced opposition to a proposed school dis- one-fift- trict tax increase. To clarify nt coming from state sources, some of it indirectly some of those points it was felt necessary to contact a school district official. The two views from local taxes paid to local coffers. That compares to a 35 percent local share on the average in the states 40 districts, he are featured.) BOUNTIFUL The Davis School District receives as much money as any other school distrct for educational purposes and passage of the voted leeway Oct.. 2 would noted. The monies are there and come guaranteed and they will always be there. MINIMIZING the effect a voted leeway could have Mr. Stephenson claimed, The voted leeway is not a substantial amount. Its not a whole lot for the district but for the taxpayers (to pay). On the two mills where matching funds would be supplied from state sources, about $2 million could be generated with about an equal amount coming from local monies. That compares to a $60 million maintenance and operation budget. But Mr. Glmes said the $2 million is important, meaning the difference between possibly going in the hole, financially. Cuts in 874 funds forced the district to make program cuts and if that source is furth- but they have become accustomed to a higher level than other districts, Mr. Stephenson said. It was started (federal impact aid) before equalization and if Hill AFB was Kennecott or some other large firm, the property local portion of equalization would be increased with fewer state monies supplied. "The argument we don't no one does, he said, noting even small districts get funding support. The only district that might not get support is Emery and they have a high tax base. Were the opposite. g er reduced more pruning would be necessary. SCHOOL district officials say they will lose federal funds need more than the mum..." Mr. Glines tered, If we dont need minicounit then , MR. STEPHENSON said that after the district lost its first leeway election Nov. 27 of list year, it set about systematically to convice the people it wgs needed, including the setting up of three citizens groups to study ways to cut the ber of the private, business receives state equalization funding, totalling $946 a student this year. That equals the amount given other districts, he said, although he said he could only think of one district in the state operating on that limited amount. other things up. Glines agreed that such equalization funding is available but added, That is for the minimum school program. Every other district has more than the minimum. Citing the voted leeway, where some matching funds are combined with local tax dollars, he said other districts including Granite, Salt Lake and Jordan have utilized that revenue source. By FARMINGTON nearly as much. rather dry in our area. But this year has been wet. Heavy rain pelted the area over a period of several days, providing ample opportunities for cars to spray around. September RAINY SEPTEMBER is usually District Charged With Foul Play In Upcoming Election The t SALT LAKE CITY Utah Taxpayers Association has accused the Davis County Monday afternoon. He said further that he had nothing against the Davis School Di- School District with foul play in their upcoming voted lee- strict claiming the district does not need the additional money. On the last statement, Tax- payers Association Board Chairman Fred Froerer of Ogden said the board had not acted on the election (whether to approve or disapprove it) and had not had a chance to study the matter. THOSE COMMENTS were made in a telephone interview DAVIS NEWS JOURNAL Howard Stephenson, UTA staff member, was contacted Tuesday morning. He wrote the press release although it was released under Executive Vice President Jack Olsons name. Mr. Stephenson said the board had taken action in a meeting last week allowing local taxpayers to act according to their own wishes on particular issues. HE DID not say a formal board vote had been taken on the Davis School vote, however. A letter was sent to the 120 Davis members asking their feelings on the election and Mr. Stephenson said about 50 percent responded. He could not supply an accurate count, however, and was not able to give an exact tally of those responding as to who was for or against the election. And while he said he would compile the data before press deadline, he could not be reached later for comment. 197 "B North Mam St., Layton, Utah 84041 Phone Published Weekly by the Utah Taxpayer, published by the UTA, said taxpayers in Davis County are mad as hell about the school district's A STATEMENT in 376-913- 3 . Clinton isnt getting a new school but BY CLAIMING a need for federal impact aid funds the district is depending on extra IT SAID the school district clerk has been including propaganda favoring the three mill tax increase with applications for absentee ballots. It said further the "UTA has bitterly opposed the increase "hinterlands neediqg to pay more to attract teachers, the Salt Laker said. To those salary-relate- d comments Mr. Glines said, I checked with the state this morning (last Thursday) and were hundreds of dollars bemaybe low (other districts) 7th on beginning salary and on the average were maybe 9th. By no means are we the top were competitive. THE AVERAGE salary was $700 below Salt Lake City and mayber $500 below Granite and that was computed by the state. Jordan is below us but theyre growing so fast they have a whole bunch of new teachers. (Continued On Page 2) School Board By TOM BUSSELBERG AFB-relate- d HIGHER salaries were counted by districts in the For Clinton Elem. se way election, press release' Further addressing the salary increases Mr. Stephenson said, If they really had a (financial) need why did they give such a large increase, when Davis County salaries were near the top the four highest (statewide) for teachers with bachelors degrees. Addition Approved DAVIS DISTRICT hasnt utilized the voted leeway it has had federal 874 impact aid monies given to help d educate the Hill students. But with a decline in those funds the district is looking to the voted leeway to make up the difference, Mr. Glines continued. And a check of per pupil spending iin the 1978-7- 9 school year showed Davis District at $1,420 against a state average $8 higher. That compared to $1,656 in Salt Lake City, $1 ,498 in Ogden, $1 ,415 in Granite and $1,264 in Jordan. Oversees Subscription $15.00 (Payable in Advance) Teachers gave up some fringe benefits and pay for extra services in their salary agreement. School District Business Manger-Boar- d Clerk Roger SUBSCRIPTION $4.50 per year Out ot State Subscription $5 50 IN ADDITION, the district had to do something so they wouldnt show a budget balance so they gave 12 percent (raises) plus incremental raises to teachers. We feel it was ON THE teachers salary increase the business manager said, "We did not give the teachers a 12.1 percent increase. They wanted it but we said the only way is if you give oriented UTA, said the district CLIPPER PUBLISHING CO. John Stahle, Jr.,, Publisher Second Class Postage Paid at Layton, Utah Stephenson added, admitting, however, that he had not thoroughly studied the budget. given. Countering those comments In no Mr. Glines responded, time did I ever have any inference I ought to do something to show the public a need for money. We only tried to cut most where it would hurt the least. Utah Taxpayers Association says. IN AN interview at the offices in Bountiful late last week, Howard Stepneson, a staff mem- City-base- emphasized as needed cuts "were a very minor part of the budget, Mr. while those areas more than they shouldve only add money for gravy, the from the Salt Lake group said Tuesday. budget. The things that would hit very hard on the patron were voted proposal for a 3.00 mill held leeway election to be 2. Oct. Thursday, When questioned as to backing for such a statement Mr. Stephenson was unable to say how many, if any, county taxpayers had such feelings. ON HANDLING of the election preparations, the press release said further, According to Utah law, election clerks are supposed to be impartial in matters connected with balloting. We believe this is a clear case of electioneering by the school district clerk. That statement was attributed to the taxpayer group but Mr. Stephenson said the release and that statement were prepared by the paid staff. SCHOOLS CLERK Roger Glines said a pamphlet urging support for the leeway had been mailed with six absentee ballot applications but noted, THE DAVIS School Board appointed an architect to prepare plans for a 19 room addition to the existing Clinton Elementary School, Tuesday at least temnight, ending months of discusporarily sion between the board and leaders and parents from that city. The $1.7 million addition will include utilization of six Clearfield Council Gives Final Approval By MARK D. MICKELSEN One of the secretaries slipped them in. They went out to six people and we stopped it. She just thought the material would be helpful. It (the pamphlet mailing) wasnt approved by anyone here, he emphasized. TAX consultant Vernon Carr of Bountiful said, I suspect its a matter of interpretation (of state law). The law says there can be no campaigning within 100 feet of the polls. I have suggested to the board (schools) that they not do it. It had been only six applications. Any time you work with the official election process it should be neutral, he said, tb The CLEARFIELD Clearfield City Council has approved a contract change with the North Davis Sewer District which will add an additional 75 cents onto most resident sewer fees. EMPHASIZING that the rate increase is not the citys fault, City Manager Gayle Starks told an audience Tuesday night that theres no way to get around the change. He said Clearfield made their contract with the district in 1964. The charge for connections based on the gallonage of sewage was then $1.25 per month, he said. And now the district, worried that they will soon have to buy a new sewage digester to handle the tremen Of Sewer Increase dous growth in North Davis County, have decided to raise the fee to a $2 minimum. Ad Deadline: Friday Noon Mr. Starks told the council they would officially have to approve the addendum in order for the increase to take effect. He added that trailer houses will be included in the fee change, to take effect October 1st. THE DISTRICT feels it a legitimate protection plan, Mr. Starks said, a raise needed just to break even. (increase) is He said an Ogden account- Picture Deadline: Monday Noon ing firm told district officials that the fee increase is the best projected change effort, and the best way to keep the system on its feet. There is also a good chance, according to Starks, that if the district isnt able to acquire a federal grant for their proposed digester, another fee increase will be pushed onto Clearfield Clearfield City Council Tables Rezoning Issue In Lieu Of Info. By MARK D. MICKELSEN A propCLEARFIELD osal for a new country-styl- e store near the south end of Clearfield was refused by the city council last week until the planners give specific details of their rezoning request to the citys planning commission. they have to drive too far to any other local markets. Mr. Wolfley received initial approval from the planning commission earlier this month, but at Tuesdays council meeting the city fathers questioned the details of his plan. Part of the plan calls for a rezoning request, from A-- l to SC-a change which would 1, THE PROPERTY, owned by Monte Wolfley and located at 2398 South Main, has been adopted as a possible site for a new grocery facility to aid nearby residents who claim allow any mall-orient- grocery-typ- e or development. AN AREA near his property had already been set aside on the citys master plan for similar development and the planning commission, in their recommendation, decided that a small change in the master plan moving the space to Wolf-ley- s property, would not be a problem. The council's questions came when no definite footage plans could be decided upon by the planners at the meeting. The rezoning request requires that the development be no larger than five acres, however, a, representative of the planning commission explained that a one acre space would not be spot zoning. This was another worry of the councilmen. THE COUNCIL asked that Wolfley and the development planners meet again with the planning commission to determine what sector of the property is to be rezoned. Another public hearing will be set up after the commissions recommendation is made public. No one at Tuesdays hearing complained about the zoning change and a representative for Wolfley assured the council that people in the area want the store, if only to save gas. citizens. OUR CHANCES of getting federal help are good, he added, explaining that sewage disposal on the local level is deemed an important project by most government institutions. Of the $4 fee being paid regularly by local residents, Mr. Starks said only $1.25 goes to the district. The rest goes to the city. SOME OF the citys outlying water lines are being used to wheel sewage through va- rious parts of Clearfield, Starks told the council. So, in retaliation for this city service, he informed the group he too will be asking for an increased fee, an increase the district will have to pay. rooms in an existing addition added to the original nine room building. Plans call for a 25 room school in place of the current 15 room facility. THE ORIGINAL building, including offices, will be raised on completion of the addition, anticipated for December 1981 completion. New offices would be constructed and a loading-unloadin- g circular drive area built in front of the school. The addition will be constructed while school is in session and district administration estimates say the projected space needs could be met for two or three years and noted that such a plan would fit into budget plans. ONE BOARD member, however, did not support the plan. Bruce Watkins, a Sunset resident who includes Clinton in his precinct, pushed instead for a new school and addition to Clinton Elementary at a cost of about $3.3 million. Possibly because of the de- pressed economic situation bids for construction projects have been lower from January now, Mr. Watkins said, indicating he felt a school that would have cost $3 million (the new school projection) could be completed for $2.3 million. -- AND A previous plan presented to the board calling for 13 new rooms at Clinton Elementary at about a $1 million cost could be done more quickly, allowing more classes at lower cost, he added. But Assistant Supt. John S. White, w ho oversees buildings and grounds activities, said that while it would seem feasible to build half as many rooms at twice the speed that isn't possible. Its all right to be optimistic about the time (a building) can be delivered but I'm not (sure about it) considering the options. There are so many variables I think it is fairly realistic (to assume a December 81 opening). BOARD MEMBER Sheryl Allen of Bountiful questioned ability to spend $3.3 million for Clinton alone. If we could build all the elementary schools we need now we could save money but we cant. I really question putting all that money there when we have needs in other areas. I question putting all that money there since some other projects would have to be deferred, she said. (Continued On Page 2) |