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Mark Shurtleff Mark Smedley Thomas Lowe
Utah Attorney General Heber City Attorney Wasatch County Attorney
May 19, 2009
Concerning: Lack of full disclosure to the citizens of Wasatch County on the Wasatch School District‘s appropriation of taxpayer money.
Gentlemen:
Since the summer of 2006, there have been many Wasatch County citizens concerned with the bond election in November 2006 where the public voted for a new high school for $59.5 million. A complaint was sent to the Attorney General’s office at that time, due to a suspected improper architectural bid process.
Now there are more concerns, based on what the public is hearing and completed research.
•The cost of the new high school. The Legislative Audit on School Construction, released in November 2008, stated that the cost of construction increased by $15.5 million, not the original $46.2 million represented to the public before the vote. A construction bid was done in August 2006, prior to the bond election, showing a bid of $55 million which questions whether correct information was presented to the public at that time. Now we’re hearing that construction alone is close to $76 million at this time.
•Accounting of recent tax increase. The Wasatch School District raised taxes in August 2007, 49.34% above the budgeted revenue for the prior year. The district’s annual revenue in 2007 was $36.5 million, 2008 was $43 million, and now 2009 is $47.3 million. Wasatch District enrollment growth from 2005-2009 was 10.3%, yet the total revenue increase in the same time period was 65.9% . Where is this money going?
•The Wasatch School District said in an April 15, 2009 WASATCH WAVE article that they will be cutting 90 aides in the classroom (originally 134), due to a $1.5 million cutback of state funding to Wasatch, as well as a $500K loss in funds for the current school year.
•In November 2008, the Wasatch School Board decided to do a full district realignment (for the coming 2009 school year) moving entire schools (swapping the jr. high and middle school) and certain grades (5th through 9th) around to justify finishing the construction on new high school. Parents were not in support of this when a public hearing was held, and we have heard from some teachers as well. The realignment is costing more money, some of which is to buy 3 new school buses and hire more bus drivers to accommodate the expanded bus routes that are necessary.
•The administration is housed in the old North School, a $4.6 million renovation project that the current business administrator was overseeing. In 2004, the AG’s Office found $1.8 million of that project disappeared with no invoice backup and 6 laws were broken. The Wasatch School Board decided to remove the alternative high school from the premises this year and now the 20,000 sq. ft. building will be used by the administration alone.
•The old high school continues to be for sale, with no price attached. The board is waiting to get an offer. Numerous people have expressed their concerns about selling it. In a September 2007, school board meeting, the board was asked by an audience member whether the board was going to include the public in these decisions. The board didn’t feel any reason to have a public meeting about this issue. The real estate market is down, the impact fees associated with this building have been moved to the new high school, and the building has been allowed to deteriorate. The district needs to sell this building to recoup their expenses elsewhere. Many in the community feel the price it could render is not worth losing this school building when it’s located next to existing jr. high, and can still be utilized by the district.
The reason for this detailed explanation of recent events is to show that the Wasatch School District is continually making poor decisions for the community, and the school children, due to the new high school budget increasing beyond their, and our, capabilities. The public is concerned, and we are asking for you to investigate the new high school to determine the extent of the Wasatch School District’s mismanagement, and possible violations of Utah State codes. We would appreciate your response to this issue within 10 business days.
Sincerely,
Concerned Wasatch County residents (attached)
Mark Shurtleff
Utah Attorney General
May 19, 2009
RE: Complaint regarding Wasatch School District disclosure to taxpayers
We, the undersigned have read, and support, the attached letter.
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