"Unity and Diversity are not opposites. We can achieve greater unity as we foster an atmosphere of inclusion and respect for diversity."   Quentin L. Cook

I voted "No" on the tax increase in Fall of 2023. As we all know, community members can, and do, disagree on many things. The school board is a reflection of our community and as such, is no different.

The school board knew since the beginning of the taxation rate discussion that, respectfully, I was not comfortable with the levy rates to our Capital Fund. We all agreed that teacher raises and student resources needed to be funded completely (General Fund levies with state law dictating where it can be spent), but that the capital budget was where there was a disagreement and I wanted to know if it was possible to have a drop on the rates of those levies.

I had many meetings and hours that were spent asking detailed questions of our Business Administrator Jason Watt, and Keith Johansen, and Superintendent Paul Sweat. They were all very helpful with getting me information, taking their time to respectfully answer my questions and in the study session. I am also appreciative of our County Clerk, Joey Granger, giving of her time to meet with me and answer my questions in an effort to better understand certain community members perspectives.

I talked countless hours with board members, residents, and business owners who reached out and shared their feelings on the proposed rates. I can honestly say that I went into every meeting, the public hearing, and conversation, trying to gain understanding, to be as open as possible to additional information, perspectives, and opinions other than my own.

As such, when the district let us know in our study session that the teachers and students would be taken care of with either keeping the rates or lowering the capital levy rates-it really came down to a difference of opinion on whether to treat the capital budget as a "checking account" or as a "savings account." There was never a debate on the levies that dealt directly with teachers pay and benefits, or any money going to the classrooms and students. The differing of opinions came when we discussed the levies going to the Capital Budget.

Knowing that teachers and students were taken care of in either scenario, and knowing the amount of our community members who were saying they were struggling with the burden of their property taxes, especially when combined with the "valuation corrections" that were being made from the county, I voted "No" to the proposed levy rates because I felt we should make adjustments to lower the capital levies and be able to save more in future years that would come from growth of the valley (per state law school district budgets get the same from the year before plus any growth).

My goal is always to make the best decision I can, as a representative of my fellow community members with consideration to all of the information I have. (Utah State Code 53G-4-401-5) It is my responsibility as an elected official, to represent my constituents. With this all said, yes I realize it is the first "No" vote on something like this in at least 12 years in Wasatch. I still have worked with, and respect, my fellow board members who voted differently than I did! A difference of opinion and vote does not mean we stop working together for the good of our community!

I want to continue to foster an environment that is conducive to asking questions and having respectful discussions even if it is to agree to disagree! I believe that with sharing diversity of thought and ideas, "greater unity can be achieved" and progress is made for our community.

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Link to Truth in Taxation Study Session (starts at 15:24)

Link to Truth in Taxation Public Hearing