The Jordan School District Board of Education held Truth in Taxation hearing on Tuesday, August 2 at 6 p.m. at Riverton High School to consider increasing taxes. This was an opportunity for public comment on the tax increase.
- Why Raise Taxes?
- The money will be used for teacher and staff pay.
- The money will provide additional supports for teachers in the classroom.
- Property taxes are not adjusted for inflation and the District’s operating costs continue to rise each year.
The tax increase amounts to $43 per year per $100,000 home value. That is approximately $22 a month on a home valued at $600,000.
Jordan works hard to use resources efficiently and to provide a world-class education for students and a supportive work environment for all employees.
Did You Know We Do More with Less?
Did you know Jordan School District’s tax rate is less than other school districts in our area?
Jordan’s tax rate is near the State average and below other neighboring districts.
Tax Rates
Assessed Valuation Per Student
Did you know our assessed valuation per student is well below the State average?
The assessed valuation per student is the total of all taxable property values in the District divided by the number of students districtwide.
Jordan’s assessed valuation per student is $442,815. That is about half of the state average.
Assessed Valuation Per Student
Tax Yield Per Student
Did you know our tax yield per student is well below the State average?
The tax yield per student is the amount of local taxes we generate divided by the number of students districtwide. The tax yield is the tax rate multiplied by the assessed valuation per student.
Jordan School District’s total tax yield per student is $1,996 which is well below the State average.
Tax Yield Per Student
Tax Yield Per Student For Operations
Did you know the portion of the tax yield per student available for operations like utilities and teacher salaries in Jordan is near the bottom statewide?
Jordan School District’s yield is $982 per student, well below the state average tax yield per student, which is $2,115.
Estimated Voted & Board Local Tax Yield Per Student FY22
Extra Funding from the State
Did you know the State gives extra funding to Districts like Jordan which have a smaller tax base per student?
This is money that comes from State equalization programs. The programs exist to ensure students have some minimal funding equity across school districts.
The State gives extra funding to district’s like Jordan. But even with the additional State funding we receive, Jordan is nearly lowest in the entire state in per student operations funding, just three districts are lower.
Estimated Voted/Board Local Tax Yields & State Contributions Per Student – All School Districts
Estimated Voted/Board Local Tax Yields & State Contributions Per Student
District Growth
Did you know Jordan School District is one of the fastest growing school districts in the State?
Projections show that Jordan anticipates an increase of 3,631 students in the next seven years. To house all those students, we’d need the equivalent of four elementary schools or 145 portables.
Enrollment Projections 2022 – 2029
Jordan Stands Alone with Enrollment Growth in Salt Lake County
Did you know Jordan is the only growing school district in Salt Lake County?
Over the last decade, Jordan saw an additional 7,259 students enrolled. In contrast, enrollments at all other Salt Lake County school districts have declined.
10-Year School District Enrollment Growth: Oct. 1, 2011 – Oct 1, 2021
Long-Term Debt Per Student
Did you know Jordan is well below the State average in long-term debt per student?
When you look at long-term debt per student, Jordan is well below the State average at $4,834 per student. The State average is $9,420 per student. Jordan is also well below some of our surrounding districts when it comes to long-term debt per student.
Neighboring District Long-Term Debt per Student
Your Investment in Students and Education, Teacher Pay
Do you know why Jordan School District relies on you to invest in our students and their education?
Jordan School District has worked hard to provide teachers and school staff the pay increases they so deserve. The Board of Education has consistently increased teacher pay and right now the starting pay for teachers in Jordan is competitive with surrounding districts.
Teacher Pay Increases
Unrestricted Fund Balance (Strategic Reserves)
Do you know what the District’s unrestricted fund balance is?
The District’s unrestricted fund balance or strategic reserves, is all of our State, Federal and local funding that is not restricted, committed or assigned to a specific program, project or purpose.
As a result of consistently increasing teacher pay, along with other employee salaries like custodians and bus drivers, our strategic reserves have been declining. They have now dropped to a point where we need help from taxpayers to continue our investment in employees.
Board Local Levy
Did you know the Jordan School District Board Local Levy is the third lowest in the state?
Of the 41 school districts in Utah, Jordan School District has the third lowest Board Local Levy. Only Wayne and Piute school districts are lower. The Board of Education is responsible for the Board Local Levy and is considering a rate increase.
Board Local Levy All Districts – Tax Year 2021
Board Local Levy – Tax Year 2021
Certified Tax Rates & Truth in Taxation
Do you know how Utah’s property tax system works?
In Utah, property tax rates adjust each year so the taxing entity will receive the same total tax proceeds it received in the prior year, except for any new property developments. This means that as property values increase, the property tax rate decreases so the resulting tax revenue is the same as the prior year. Only new developments that were not on the tax rolls in the prior year yield new property tax dollars for a taxing entity. No adjustments are made for inflation. The county auditor and the State Tax Commission calculate this tax rate and it is called the Certified Tax Rate. Governing bodies, such as the Board of Education, may increase the tax rate from the Certified Tax Rate only if they go through a process called Truth in Taxation. Truth in Taxation requires the entity to hold a public hearing to provide an opportunity for residents to comment on the proposal before an increase may occur.
The Jordan School District Board of Education is holding a Truth in Taxation hearing on Aug. 2 at 6 p.m. at Riverton High School.
Jordan is one of a handful of districts in the State that has had just one Truth in Taxation since 2011.
Number of Truth in Taxation Hearings 2011-2021
Additional Financial Facts
More detailed financial information can be found below.