In case some of you are still thinking San Juan County Schools won't be affected by a National Monument. Here is a likely scenario, written and prepared by long term school board member Merri Shumway.
"Here is an answer about Resolute Natural Resources. Resolute makes up 1/3 of all centrally assessed property in San Juan County. Other Oil companies, gas, mining and gravel together make up another 1/3 of all centrally assessed property. Centrally assessed property is 3/5 of our total local property tax revenue. There are numerous other small centrally assessed properties. (Ironically the Navajo Tribe is in the process of buying Resolute Natural Resources, the biggest tax payer in the county.)
Essentially our funding for schools could be down as much as 50% when we lose Resolute and if we lose access to the land that supports the other 1/3 of centrally assessed properties. What we would have left to tax is: is motor vehicles, personal property, real property (buildings) and real property (land). It is not legally possible for SJSD to raise the tax rate high enough to make up for these losses.
I am not in favor of raising taxes in any event, but people in our county will have to get used to having far less services for their school children. The realities are really very grim. After I wrote and passed the resolution with Utah School Boards Association opposing the monument we had a discussion in our local school board meeting. We still have some work to do to help some understand that SJSD will be in a state of emergency and will just not have enough funding to pay for a quality education for our kids. We will lose kids in our schools because jobs here will be lost. Smaller schools result in fewer academic and extra curricular offerings for kids. I am currently working with Matt Anderson with Sutherland Institute to put information together to address the State School Board to urge them to pass a resolution opposing the monument."
Learn why a Bears Ears national monument would be especially devastating to the schoolchildren in San Juan County.
"Here is an answer about Resolute Natural Resources. Resolute makes up 1/3 of all centrally assessed property in San Juan County. Other Oil companies, gas, mining and gravel together make up another 1/3 of all centrally assessed property. Centrally assessed property is 3/5 of our total local property tax revenue. There are numerous other small centrally assessed properties. (Ironically the Navajo Tribe is in the process of buying Resolute Natural Resources, the biggest tax payer in the county.)
Essentially our funding for schools could be down as much as 50% when we lose Resolute and if we lose access to the land that supports the other 1/3 of centrally assessed properties. What we would have left to tax is: is motor vehicles, personal property, real property (buildings) and real property (land). It is not legally possible for SJSD to raise the tax rate high enough to make up for these losses.
I am not in favor of raising taxes in any event, but people in our county will have to get used to having far less services for their school children. The realities are really very grim. After I wrote and passed the resolution with Utah School Boards Association opposing the monument we had a discussion in our local school board meeting. We still have some work to do to help some understand that SJSD will be in a state of emergency and will just not have enough funding to pay for a quality education for our kids. We will lose kids in our schools because jobs here will be lost. Smaller schools result in fewer academic and extra curricular offerings for kids. I am currently working with Matt Anderson with Sutherland Institute to put information together to address the State School Board to urge them to pass a resolution opposing the monument."
Learn why a Bears Ears national monument would be especially devastating to the schoolchildren in San Juan County.
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