Show Should Building Be Phased Out Should emergency school building programs be phased out With school enrollments ex expected ex- ex expected x- x to decline over the ne next next- t. t five years Utah might well review its entire school capital capital capital capi capi- tal outlay program especially that portion relating to state aid for Cor local school construction THIS WAS the conclusion reached by Utah Foundation the private research agency in their latest survey of Utah's school building programs According to the Foundation study Utah schools have spent more than one-half one billion dollars dollars dollars dol dol- lars for capital outlay purposes since the end of World War II II THESE funds were raised primarily from 1 local property property prop prop- erty taxes 2 state aid to local local lo lo- local cal districts for school construction construction construction con con- 3 Federal aid in districts affected by Federal installations and employment and 4 proceeds from the sale of bonds At the present time Utah distributes state aid for school construction under three separate separate separate sep sep- sep sep- arate continuing continuing continuing the programs ing school building program the bonding unit aid program and the alternate building aid program THE FOUNDATION report notes that the continuing building building building build build- ing program was designed to assist districts in meeting their range long-range replacement and growth requirements while the bonding unit aid and alternate building aid programs were geared to provide funds to districts districts districts dis dis- with emergency needs The report suggests that most of the emergency school building building build build- building ing needs in Utah resulting from Crom growth have been met and Utah schools will be entering entering entering en en- a period of declining enrollments In some districts the decline has already begun The Salt Lake City School District District District Dis Dis- Dis- Dis for example will be closing closing closing clos clos- ing six elementary schools this year because of reduced enrollments WHEN WilEN THE TilE bonding unit aid and alternate building aid pro pro- grams were first enacted in 1961 they were generally regarded regarded regarded re re- re- re as temporary measures to meet emergency building needs during the initial years of the continuing building pro pro- gram Some individuals and public officials have raised questions regarding the propriety of continuing continuing continuing con con- these two programs which were formulated as temporary measurers to meet the emergency building needs in a limited number of dis- dis dist t its ts THE TilE Governor for example recommended to the 1967 Legislature Leg Leg- Legislature Leg Leg- that the State begin phasing these programs out of existence Currently thirteen school districts in Utah receive receive receive re re- re- re state aid under the bonding unit aid or alternate building aid programs For Forthe Forthe Forthe the past several years the amount of such aid has totaled totaled totaled to to- slightly more than 29 million per year The Foundation analysis observes observes observes ob ob- ob- ob serves that districts receiving emergency aid must renew their eligibilities every five years ONE OF TilE THE conditions for for such aid is that the district must demonstrate an unmet need at pad least tl t 30 percent of existing class class- rooms The report indicates that most of the districts now receiving emergency building aid probably probably probably ably will not be able to meet this need requirement rement and reestablish their eligibilities after 1971 or 1972 under the present law ANY EFFORT to phase out the emergency building aid programs programs pro pro- programs grams in Utah however will likely have to recognize the large bonded debt created in several of the districts with the encouragement of oC the State The report points out that when debt limits were raised in 1961 it was done with the understanding that the State would assist local districts in meeting their debt service obligations ob ob- IN HIS budget message to the 1967 Utah Legislature the Governor noted that the state therefore has a moral if not nota a legal obligation to continue the program through the life of the bonds issued If the alternate building and bonding w unit t aid programs were discontinued or phased out over the next few years the Foundation notes that the State still would be assisting local districts with their building building building build build- ing problems through the continuing continuing continuing con con- building program THIS LA LATTER TIER program was designed to assist districts with their then range long-range building needs and to encourage districts to adopt range long-range building plans |