Park City voters to decide school building plans

The Park City School Board has approved a Master Facility Plan that would expand the current school facilities.
The proposal would require voter approval of a $7 million bond to finance the project.
The district would prefer to transition to a new campus, according to a Building Points document released by the school, but has decided this is not a realistic option due to costs. The facilities plan that has been presented instead is the result of two years of planning with input from staff, students, and the public.
Three options were prepared last spring with Idea No. 3 being chosen as the best option.
The proposed building project would add more than 26,000 square feet of space in a two-story building at the current school site. New construction and remodeling under the proposed plan would include 12 new classrooms, a teacher planning/team room, district offices, administration offices, nurse station, school records and storage space, a commons area, a concessions area, a library and computer lab, kitchen expansion, new restrooms near the gym, new locker rooms, new weight room, PE and AD offices, a gym floor expansion and pull-out bleachers, expansion of the multi-purpose room, a counseling center, a special education center, and safety updates for fire and electrical in the school and FFA building.
The plan also calls for removal of all modular units which currently house five classrooms and the district office.
The Park City PTA is conducting a “Vote Yes Campaign” to encourage voters to support the bond proposal. A recent press release from the PTA notes that the district has experienced decades of growth and new educational requirements, while school facilities have not kept pace.
The high school wing was built more than 40 years ago, and it has been more than 25 years since any improvements were made to the school, according to the PTA.
The proposal calls for a 20-year bond which is the longest allowable term.
The school district estimates that the impact for a homeowner with a property valued at $200,000 and a taxable value of $106,000 would cost the taxpayer an additional $389 per year. This estimate is for residential property tax.
Residents can contact the county assessor’s office with questions about their home’s taxable value.
The school district will receive an annual state advance to help with the bond payment since the district is primarily residential and agricultural.
The amount of the advance is determined annually, but would be more than $50,000 for the first year. This advance reduces the annual bond payment from about $547,000 to about $496,000.
Voting will be by mail ballot. The ballots will be mailed to voters later this month and are due by the election date of April 21.