Utah Senators Make Case for Special Legislative Session

Jul 03, 2008 by Jeff Robinson

(KCPW News) Two Utah senators joined local elected officials to meet with Governor Jon Huntsman on Wednesday to make their case for a special session, which lawmakers would use to study the controversial Jordan School District Split. Given the new boundaries, Senator Michael Waddoups presented the governor with data showing that the new East side district would be able to lower property taxes under the proposal, while forcing the remaining West side to raise taxes.

"The percentages are very graphic. The East District taxes could drop 25 percent to maintain the status quo, whereas the West Side would raise taxes 32 percent to maintain the status quo," said Waddoups.

Waddoups' data also showed that the West side would have to build 21 new schools over the next eight years, while the East side would only need three.

Lisa Roskelley, the governor's spokeswoman, says he is willing to consider a special session if it looks like enough lawmakers can agree on what needs to be done regarding the split.

"Basically if you have enough legislators who have agreed upon a sort of concept or fix that would be passed in a special session, that would be something we could consider."

The two districts' transition teams have been unable to negotiate how to divide assets. The East side has said it has no choice but to move to binding arbitration.

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