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Show 50 3 SONS BOOKBTMnin65 0130S7 sr " inc- r M 49fl4 District sets leeway date for Sept. 23 In what is believed to be a precedent in the Alpine School District, taxpayers have asked members of the board of education for a tax increase. As a result of the action, voters will go to the polls September 23 to decide a 4-mill leeway tax for the district. Members of the board of education at their monthly board meeting on Tuesday (May 27) accepted petitions from the District Public Involvement Council asking for the leeway vote. Officials said this is believed to be the first time in the history of the district where the public has sought a tax increase through an initiative petition, an action allowed by state law. The petition forces the school board to seek a tax increase "of not more than four mills for not more than 10 years." If approved by the general populace, the school board will decide if it will implement the entire four mill increase. Dr. Charles Lloyd, board clerk-treasurer, clerk-treasurer, said the board, if the mill levy is approved, can use the entire four mill increase or can raise taxes by one, two or three mills. Dr. Lloyd said by law the public could ask for the election by submitting sub-mitting petitions containing signatures of 10 percent of the electors elec-tors who voted at the last general election. A check with the Utah County Clerk showed this to be 4,174, he said. Petitions submitted to him by PIC members contained 5,289 names of which 4,301 were verified as registered voters. Another 227 signatures had just been submitted earlier Tuesday and had not been verified by the time the board met, Dr. Lloyd said. Funds raised by approval of the leeway could only be used to pur chase textbooks, to purchase equipment and supplies; to maintain existing facilities; and to provide teaching aides for exceptionally large classes. If approved, the funds would be too late for the 1986-87 school year, but instead would be available for the 1987-88 school year, Dr. Lloyd said. The leeway, if passed, would add about $2.5 million to the district's funds, including matching funds of $727,245 in equalization aid from the state for the first two mills. Dr. Lloyd said the four mills would increase taxes by $38 a year for a home with a market value of $80,000. It would increase district funds by about $70 pet pupil over the $2,000 . already spent for each student. Dr. Richard Sudweeks, board chairman, said it is up to the patrons of the district to become informed and make a choice if they want to approve the leeway or not. "Last year we asked for three mills and it didn't succeed. My personal per-sonal opinion is a higher one has a lower chance to pass." Board member Richard Johns said he didn't think "four is excessive, but that remains to be seen at the election." Earlier in the meeting, Bob Wright opposed the mill increase, saying "The taxpayers in this district are already paying 60 percent per-cent of their taxes for schools. Now the school district wants to add more burden to the taxpayers." He suggested costs be cut in other 1 areas such as extracurricular activities, field trips and j administrative expenses. Sudweeks said if the district cuts back anymore than it already has, students would be hurt. i He said the district has a "pretty 1 slim budget" and already has the lowest number of administrators per See Leeway on page 3 |