2012 Voter Guide: Clark County Question 2 (Schools)

Ballot Question No. 2 asks voters for a six-year property tax rate increase to fund renovations and improvements at aging Clark County schools.

Taxpayers are still paying off the Clark County School District’s 1998 bond at a rate of $194 a year for the average home assessed at $100,000. If the increase is approved, the tax rate, which stands at 55 cents for public schools, would increase by about 21 cents per $100 of assessed valuation to generate up to $720 million.

The owner of a home assessed at $100,000 would see a property tax increase of $74.20.

School Board President Linda Young acknowledged that it’s not an opportune time for many struggling families, but "some schools are hanging on by a thread" because constantly failing air conditioners, leaky roofs and outdated electrical systems put students at a disadvantage.

"We have to ask voters," she said, noting that the district is being "frugal" by paying as it goes and incurring no new debt. "We feel it’s a fiscally responsible plan."

But the district’s track record is one of frivolous spending, contends Victor Joecks, spokesman for the conservative Nevada Policy Research Institute, pointing to the 1998 bond.

The district gave $5 million of that money to The Smith Center for the Performing Arts and $2 million to Henderson for a community pool. Most of the $4.9 billion was spent on building new schools, but the district chose to build more and more expensive schools, he said. The district spent an average of $13.7 million per new elementary school in 2001 and 2002, but its new elementary schools cost no less than $20 million from 2006 to 2010, according to the district’s bond report.

District schools aren’t even that old, Joecks said. Clark County schools are 22 years old on average compared to the country’s average of 50 years.

"This is a tough pill for taxpayers to swallow," he said.

Under the measure:

■ More than half of the tax increase would be divided among 19 schools that average 50 years in age for major capital improvements. The schools are Basic, Bonanza, Chaparral, Eldorado, Indian Springs, Laughlin, Moapa Valley and Virgin Valley high schools; Garside, Hyde Park and Knudson middle schools; Griffith, Ullom, Rowe, Heard, Kelly, McCall and Thomas elementary schools; and the Las Vegas Academy. Indian Springs, Laughlin, Moapa Valley and Virgin Valley high schools would also receive new gyms.

■ Other schools would get overhauls to systems such as heating and cooling. They are Greenspun, Becker, Sawyer, O’Callaghan, Swainston, White and Johnson middle schools, for about $8.82 million each. These schools were built between 1991 to 1993, and their systems have reached the end of their lifespans for Southern Nevada’s hot climate, district officials have said.

■ Another 13 schools would receive electrical system upgrades. An electrical upgrade costs about $915,000 per school and would be done at Harris, McWilliams, Dearing, Culley, Red Rock, Long, Beckley and Ferron elementary schools; and Brown, Cannon, Smith, Cashman and Orr middle schools.

■ Boulder City High School would be able to complete its phased replacement for $33.7 million, and West Prep Academy could be converted to a kindergarten through 12th grade school for $12 million. Also, $50 million would go for new technology and equipment, such as desks, at various schools.

■ Lincoln-Edison and Bell elementary schools would be replaced. However, details haven’t been disclosed about where two new elementary schools would be built to alleviate crowding at existing schools.

Contact reporter Trevon Milliard at tmilliard@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0279.