Davis School District Building Generations Bond 2022

Two cartoon students wave in front of a construction site

Building Generations Bond

Davis School District 2022

Building Improvement & Construction Plan
 

The Need: Address growth and repair and maintain existing infrastructure.
The Solution: A $475 million bond that will not increase the current tax rate.
The Results: The district completed 212 projects after voters approved its 2015 bond. 

Davis School District is recognized locally and nationally for high graduation rates, innovative approaches to education and being one of the largest school districts in Utah. The district motto of “Learning First” is more than just a tagline – it’s a commitment to create successful educational experience for each of the 73,000 children enrolled in 92 schools. 

One way the district supports student learning is through the physical school structures. It wants every building to be a safe and engaging environment for learning. To meet this promise, aging buildings need updates to meet today’s learning standards. 

Similarly, population growth along the Wasatch Front is rising at a steady pace and classroom sizes follow those patterns in stride. As more and more students attend DSD schools, space is needed to accommodate them. 

To meet current needs and proactively prepare for the future, a bond election will be on the November 8th ballot to invest in our children, education and the future of the community. 

When passed, this bond will allow DSD to build a new junior high and elementary school, rebuild two existing schools and remodel and expand seven schools. The district plans to make dozens of needed safety, maintenance and mechanical upgrades to classrooms and buildings across the district, as well as purchase land for future school sites in the areas of Davis County with highest projected growth.   

 

2022 Bond Projects

 

 

 

 

 

Needs Throughout the District

With 92 schools in Davis School District and a limited number of financial resources, it takes careful planning to anticipate construction needs in DSD buildings.  

When students enter their school’s doors, hangout in its hallways and learn inside classrooms every day, they cause the normal wear and tear you’d expect with the district's enrollment of 72,000 students. 

As years pass, it’s natural that buildings, equipment and technology need to be repaired, replaced and updated.   

The district uses a special triage system to determine which buildings are in most urgent need of repair.  

Bond projects can address a building’s systems, such as air conditioning, HVAC and plumbing, or its physical structures, such as the windows, restrooms, kitchens and gyms. Bond money must be used for school construction and improvement. Legally, it cannot be used for operational expenses, salaries or anything else. 

A group of student body officers wave at the camera. They all wear red, white and black letterman jackets.

 

 

No Tax Rate Increase Promise

How can Davis School District propose a building improvement and construction bond without increasing the tax rate?

First, the $475 million Building Generations Bond will not cause a tax rate increase because rising property values, new homes and new businesses contribute to a broader tax base in Davis County. As long as taxable value in the county stays consistent or continues rising, families in Davis County can anticipate no tax rate increases with the passing of the 2022 bond.

Furthermore, the district's continues to pay off existing debts as scheduled. When new bonds are issued, payments are layered into the districts existing debts as old bonds are retired. Fiscal responsibility is important to Davis School District, which is why the district aims to keep property tax rates steady when new bonds are sold.

A student colors with markers at her desk.

Davis School District's History with Bonds

Davis School District has a great record with bonds, completing 212 projects following the successful passage of the 2015 Room to Learn Bond.

The district has an excellent bond rating, which saves money for taxpayers.

The district also received a Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting from the Government Finance Officers Association for the past 37 years. 

 

 

News & Media

KSL Logo

"The Davis School District is asking voters to approve a $475 million bond for new schools and improvements during next week's election.

Other bonds are now being paid off so the district said an approved bond won't cause tax rates to increase. Combine that with new homes and businesses that are paying into the broader tax base, homeowners won't see an increase as long as values remain high."

Read More about Here's what Davis School District plans for $475 million bond if approved (opens in new window/tab)
Standard Examiner Logo

“There’s a double urgency in my mind,” John Robison, president of the Davis school board, said Wednesday. Two aging schools in particular need to be rebuilt, Sunset Junior High School and Bountiful Elementary, he said, and more facilities are needed to accommodate booming population growth in the northwest part of Davis County around West Point, abutting Weber County.

Read More about Davis School District putting $475 million bond question to voters By Tim Vandenack - | Sep 21, 2022 (opens in new window/tab)
ABC4 Logo

"If approved, the district plans to use the financing to rebuild Sunset Jr. High School and Bountiful Elementary, which are among the oldest schools in the district. A new elementary and junior high are also planned to be built in northwest Davis County to accommodate population growth in that area."

Read More about Heatwave hits Utah Schools
KSL Logo

"A proposed $475 million bond would allow [the district] to have AC in 100% of its schools and go towards remodeling older schools like Clearfield High and rebuilding Sunset Jr. High... Because of the growth in the county and the increase in property values, the bond that’s expected to be on the November ballot would not require an additional tax increase."

Read More about Davis School District works to keep students cool during heat wave

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