School Board to pursue property tax increase for school maintenance

Property taxes need to be raised now to generate the $5.3 billion needed to keep 357 aging schools operable, Clark County School Board members agreed Thursday evening.

Their conclusion came after reviewing funding proposals from Clark County School District Superintendent Dwight Jones, all of which entailed tax increases.

Both funding options supported by the board would increase property taxes by $6.18 per month for a $100,000 home for 2012, meaning the district would have to seek voter approval in November.

“We can’t do nothing,” said School Board member John Cole, noting the short list of options and the challenge of asking people to pay more during the worst recession since the district formed in 1956.

“I’d like to give people the opportunity to say yes or no,” School Board member Erin Cranor said.

Carolyn Edwards, the board’s senior member, agreed, but emphasized that people need to understand what is driving the proposed tax increase. Students are coming to the School Board with photos of roof leaks dripping into buckets on classroom floors and reports of 100-degree classrooms without air conditioning.

The school district is the fifth-largest in the country and spent almost the past two decades building schools to keep up with growth. Now, the district struggles to maintain the schools, which have an average age of 22 years.

About two-thirds of the $5.3 billion would be used to renovate and replace deteriorating buildings over the next 10 years. Without repairs, some schools may have to be closed should they become unsafe, Chief Financial Officer Jeff Weiler said.

“While this is a lot of money, there is a lot of need,” he said.

Board members suggested switching some schools to year-round calendars to alleviate crowding instead of building nine new schools needed at the elementary level for a cost of at least $216 million.

But, Edwards said, that is only 4 percent of the need.

“I don’t think we cannot ask,” she said.

The board directed staff to start researching the likelihood of passing a property tax increase and begin the process of getting it on the ballot. The district has until mid-June to do so.

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