This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2006, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
The Jordan Board of Education has passed a resolution in support of housing fees to help pay for the cost of building schools. The decision follows a push by cities to raise money for schools at a time when some cities are discussing the possibility of breaking away to form their own school districts. Although the Legislature banned impact fees for schools in 1995, West Jordan, Cottonwood Heights, Midvale and Alta are among municipalities that have approved resolutions supporting school impact fees. Those charges would mirror fee methods that generate money for water and sewer system infrastructure. Currently, money from the cost of a new house doesn't go toward school districts, but it does help pay for other city improvements. Yet more students in the new houses often lead to new schools. The resolution states, in part: "New housing growth creates significant construction financial impacts . . . the state Legislature is urged to include a fair and equitable impact fee authorization for school districts, to help them fund new educational facilities required to serve new population growth." - Julia Lyon