Bonneville County voters have one week before they decide on a $56M bond

In exactly one week, Bonneville County voters will decide if they are for or against a $56 million bond. The bond will go toward building a new high school and relieve crowding problems at both of Bonneville County’s existing high schools. There are signs everywhere that are for or against passing the bond. For folks who support the bond, they say it’s something we can’t afford to skip.

“You’re buying a lot of things, not just a new high school,” said Lary Larson, a member of the board that drafted the bond. “Comparing this to all other solutions that were presented, this gave us the most reasonable, effective use of the money.”

Larson said they chose to build the high school as it was the best fit for all the criteria the board was looking for. “You’re getting safety for your dollar, getting flexibility for future expansion for your dollar, and getting convenience for your dollar,” said Larson.

For those who are against the bond, they say the bond costs taxpayers too much money. Paul Hanson, who opposes the bond, said there are cheaper ways to solve the overcrowding problem without having to hike up taxes.

“We know that they can bond for 31 million dollars today without raising taxes,” said Hanson. We can expand the current high schools and put that money towards building a new middle school, he said.

With building that middle school, Hanson says their would be options to move kids around or even move 9th graders into the middle school building like they do in other parts of the state.

Both sides of the issue say the most important issue is to make sure that Bonneville County’s students get the best education possible.