School Board puts tax increase on November ballot

Instead of asking voters to approve a $5.3 billion construction and renovation bond in November, the Clark County School Board unanimously decided Wednesday to pursue a $669 million levy that might be more palatable.

It would increase property taxes just as much as the bond proposal – $72 a year for the average home assessed at $100,000 – but it would remain in effect for just six years, not 20.

"This is not the time to be asking for $5.3 billion," board member Carolyn Edwards said as she supported the alternative tax measure, which will appear on the November ballot to fund school maintenance and renovations. "We do, however, need this bridge."

The six-year levy would meet only 11 percent of the Clark County School District’s projected needs. But officials could return to voters in 2018 to seek an extension of the property tax increase for another chunk of the $5.3 billion it needs to maintain 357 schools.

"This is really just a setup for what they (School Board members) really want – $5.3 billion," said Victor Joecks, spokesman for the Nevada Policy Research Institute, a conservative think tank. "As we’ve seen at the state Legislature, temporary tax increases rarely are temporary. … The tax rate just extends and extends."

Taxpayers are still paying off the district’s 1998 bond at a rate of $194 a year for the average home assessed at $100,000. This levy would add $72 on top of that, but it is temporary, board member John Cole emphasized.

If the $72 tax increase is approved in November, that doesn’t mean the School Board can roll it over and over, Cole said. To continue it, voters must again approve it in 2018.

Because of funding uncertainty, the most vital projects would be tackled first with the $669 million that would be generated if home values don’t fall anymore. If home values continue to fall, the revenue would be less.

More than half of the revenue would be used to overhaul 19 aging schools, with each overhaul costing about $20.5 million. But district officials wouldn’t reveal which schools would be renovated and may not do so before November, Chief Financial Officer Jeff Weiler said.

The other projects range from $11.9 million in schools’ electrical upgrades to $61.7 million to replace air-conditioning/heating systems at seven middle schools. Two elementary schools would be replaced, but officials wouldn’t reveal which ones.

Officials also didn’t disclose where two other new elementary schools would be located to alleviate overcrowding at existing schools.

Boulder City High School would be able to complete its phased replacement for $33.7 million, and West Prep Academy would be converted to a kindergarten through 12th grade school for $12 million.

If voters roll over the tax increase in 2018, next on the priority list would be replacing eight schools for $213.9 million. Again, officials wouldn’t reveal which schools.

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