Critical Week for District Split Plans

None by KCPW

(KCPW News) Two dozen lawmakers meet tomorrow on Utah's Capitol Hill and they may hold the fate of two proposed school district splits in their hands. KCPW's Julie Rose reports:

 

This is a critical week for east side communities who want to split from their larger school districts. Two legislative committees will meet in tandem tomorrow, called to order by Senator Howard Stephenson, in hopes of gathering enough support to justify a special session of the Utah Legislature sometime this week.

During tomorrow's meeting, lawmakers will consider proposals to equalize funding between a new smaller district and the larger district it leaves behind. Stephenson has authored a proposal that uses taxes from wealthy districts to pay for school buildings in poorer areas with high growth.

The Salt Lake County Council has said it will not put a district split on November's ballot unless a funding solution is in place. Governor Huntsman says he is open to calling a special session, but only if legislative leaders come to him with consensus on a funding proposal.

Stephenson says many lawmakers may want the equalization in place, but strong consensus will be difficult to muster. Lawmakers will take public comment on the school district funding proposal during their meeting tomorrow from two until five at the Capitol.

Stephenson expects a draft of his proposal to be available on the legislature's website by the end of today.

Utah State Legislature Website http://www.le.state.ut.us/

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