Alpine School District approves $238 million bond to build two new schools
SARATOGA SPRINGS, Utah (ABC4) — The Alpine School District voted unanimously to approve a new $238 million bond for the building of two new schools in the western half of the district.
Voting during their board meeting on April 22, the ASD board heard from residents who expressed concerns over overcrowding in the schools they currently had, and the need for more space for student mental health.
'This bond is desperately needed,' Eden Davenport, resident of Saratoga Springs, said during the meeting. 'I have seen firsthand the negative implication that overcrowded schools have. I have the difficulties that some of our children face making social connections because our schools are at maximum capacity.'
The bond has become apart a timeline of events that began back in 2024 when the district voted to split itself into three separate districts. As a part of the new 'West District,' the bond will fund the building of a new elementary school, and a new high school in Saratoga Springs. Unlike other bonds, the district is issuing 'lease revenue bonds,' which are bonds that primarily funded by leases of public facilities.
PREVIOUS: Alpine School District split: Here are the proposed boundaries ahead of final vote
As a part of S.B. 188, School District Modifications, which was passed in the 2025 General Session, opened up more options for school districts to raise funds for new buildings and other expenses, including lease revenue bonding.
With the future split in mind, the bond itself won't be on ASD forever. The bill also specified that these bonds issued after Nov. 4, 2024, will fall on the new district to fund and pay for once they are formed in 2027.
The public comment for the bonds was brief, with only three residents commenting on the proposal. One resident came with concerns regarding the debt burden that the past bonds, and now passed bond will put on residents in the area.
'You're tripling [the bond] just because you can,' John Gad, a resident of the district, told board members in opposition to resolution. 'Which is a really horrible reason to take out debt for the next 31 years. Debt that I am going to be paying, and kids who aren't even born yet are going to be paying property taxes on this debt you are going to be deciding on.'
Alpine had originally approved increases to property taxes back in 2023, and 2024. However, with this new funding, they are hoping to be able to provide the funding needed to build the proposed new schools.
Along with approving the bond, the ASD school board also approved the purchase of land in both Eagle Mountain and Saratoga Springs for the proposed schools. In total, the district approved the purchase of 83 acres of land.
Alpine School District approves $238 million bond to build two new schools
Is AI behind mistaken visa revocations, self-deport emails? Utah expert weighs in
Beef & Pasta with Asian Peanut Sauce
Utah immigration lawyer, who is a naturalized U.S. citizen, ordered to self-deport
How to replace your triggers with glimmers
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
8 hours ago
- Yahoo
Senate panel takes testimony on renewed policies seeking accountability from Michigan polluters
Sen Jeff Irwin (D-Ann Arbor) testifies on a slate of bills aimed at improving polluter accountability during a June 11, 2025 meeting of the Senate Energy and Environment Committee. | Kyle Davidson Lawmakers from the state House and Senate called for an update to Michigan's laws on environmental contamination on Wednesday, arguing the current system does not offer enough protections for individuals impacted by pollution. Testifying before the Senate Energy and Environment Committee, Sens. Jeff Irwin (D-Ann Arbor), Sue Shink (D-Northfield Township), and Stephanie Chang (D-Detroit), as well as Rep. Jason Morgan (D-Ann Arbor), underscored how the state's current regulations have impacted Michigan residents, arguing that they focus too heavily on limiting exposure rather than cleaning up pollution, leaving Michiganders to bear the costs. Last week, members of the House and Senate announced they would be reintroducing 'polluter pay' legislation in each chamber, with House Democrats introducing H.B. 4636–4640 and Senate Democrats introducing S.B. 385–387 and S.B. 391–393. 'Some people are calling for a restoration of a model that requires strict liability and full residential cleanups on every site. In fact, I proposed legislation like that in the past. But that's not what is being proposed today,' Irwin said. 'What is being proposed today is a modest change that preserves the current risk-based system, but that makes modest changes to improve protections for our water, improve protections for our land and improve protections for our health.' As a whole, the package aims to implement stricter pollution reporting and cleanup requirements, extend the statute of limitations for citizens bringing claims against polluters and allow residents impacted by pollution to sue companies for the cost of medical monitoring, Irwin explained. With more than 25,000 polluted sites across the state and 4,603 sites with land or resource controls, Irwin questioned how many aquifers the state is willing to give up to pollution. He also warned the panel that industry lobbyists would testify against these additional measures, arguing they would harm investment in Michigan business. 'Not only do I think that's not true, but we developed these bills in consultation with industry stakeholders,' Irwin said, noting that the sponsors had held workgroup meetings on the policies introduced during the previous Legislative session. The end result was more modest, but would still provide real benefits to the public, Irwin said. Andrea Pierce, policy director for the Michigan Environmental Justice Coalition and founder of the Anishinaabek Caucus said these laws are the beginning step in addressing environmental contamination in Michigan, not the end. Should these bills become law, Michigan would return to the pollution accountability standard it had before the state's polluter pay law was restructured in 1995, Pierce said. 'We need to go back to stronger laws that protect the people and communities of Michigan. Michigan needs a comprehensive legal framework for strengthening accountability and real recourse from those who pollute in our communities,' Pierce said, emphasizing that Michigan's most marginalized communities were also the ones most affected by pollution. Mike Witkowksi, director of environmental and regulatory policy for the Michigan Manufacturers Association argued shifting the system to require more from businesses would hinder the state's brownfield redevelopment efforts. 'These are not technical fixes or minor clarifications. These are fundamental changes that would undermine one of Michigan's most effective tools for addressing environmental contamination and supporting economic growth,' Witkowksi said, criticizing the additional requirements and arguing the package would increase clean up costs and liabilities for businesses. During his testimony earlier in the hearing, Irwin predicted industry stakeholders would argue that the legislation would hamper redevelopment by requiring polluted sites to be restored to pristine condition. 'That's not what this bill does,' Irwin said, arguing that pollution already hampers redevelopment efforts. With the Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy lacking both the funding and the personnel to address the thousands of contaminated sites throughout the state, Witkowski said private-sector investors and developers are essential to cleaning up contamination throughout the state. Should these bills take effect, those sites would sit idle and remain polluted, he argued. Shink countered, noting that she'd served on Washtenaw County's brownfield redevelopment board during her time as a county commissioner. 'I can assure you that it isn't just private funds that's cleaning up these brownfield sites. There's a lot of public funds. That means the taxpayers, after the company has made its profit and maybe taken that profit out of state, the community is paying to clean that up,' Shink said, noting that the state is paying to clean up the former Federal Screw Works site in Washtenaw County. Alongside testimony from several environmental advocacy groups, the Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy also offered its support for the package with Aaron Keatley, the department's chief deputy director, noting that the bills aligned with their priorities for environmental legislation. Those priorities include transparency, ensuring predictable processes, securing assurances that companies will manage any releases of contaminants until the contamination is cleaned up, ensuring sites are redeveloped and streamlining the department's cleanup criteria so that the standards match the science, Keatley said. 'It is unfortunate that I look at you and I say I cannot tell you how many sites right now are managed by responsible parties, because they're not obligated to inform me of their day to day activities to keep that property safe,' Keatley said. The committee did not take votes on the legislation. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
This Mountaintop Home in Switzerland Is a Modern Take on a Classic Alpine Chalet
You don't need a massive plot of land or over-the-top design to make a powerful statement in real estate—especially not in the Swiss Alps. This boxy, three-story home and its detached carport cut striking figures among the dense greenery of the Alpine landscape during the summer and the glimmering white snow during winter. The dark-stained larch wood siding will only get darker over time through exposure to the elements, while the steep pitch of the solar-equipped standing seam metal roof helps keep snow from piling up and wood slats over some windows offer privacy while maintaining the views from inside. More from Robb Report Art Dealer Barbara Gladstone's Elegant Manhattan Row House Lists for $12 Million A Carefully Reimagined Midcentury Oasis in the Pacific Palisades Lists for $25 Million This $24 Million Boston Home Doubles as an Art Gallery Designed by the firm Montalba Architects as a modern homage to a classic architectural trope, the home is built into the hillside and angled to take in the best view of the 10,000-foot-tall Grand Muveran. Drawing inspiration from the shape of traditional chalets, the residence has been rethought with an open floor plan, vast picture windows, and clean-lined midcentury-inspired furnishings. Constructed over just 10 months, Montalba worked with a local builder to complete the property. All of the millwork, including the angular staircase, was also done in collaboration with local carpenters and cabinet makers. Many of the furnishings came from Switzerland as well, with additional pieces curated from throughout Europe and California. RELATED: A London-Based Designer Brought Italian Style to This Pint-Sized Apartment in the Swiss Alps It's a style of sourcing that mirrors the other work of Montalba, an international firm with offices in Los Angeles, New York, and Lausanne. The company was founded back in 2004 by the Swiss-American architect David Montalba, and it draws on Swiss precision and California Modernism to create properties that evoke both styles. Modest in size at just 2,600 square feet, the Alpine abode takes advantage of lighter woods and neutral tones that contrast with the dark, moodier exterior. The main living spaces are on the middle floor and include a living room with a Nero Marquina marble fireplace and a cozy Ligne Roset sofa and armchairs. In the dining area, the tables is from Moyard, and the light-filled kitchen opens to a small patio on the home's east side. The top floor is largely for sleeping. The primary suite has a covered balcony and private bath, and two guest rooms share an additional bathroom with a shower sheathed in the same marble used on the downstairs fireplace. The lowest level, which is embedded into the mountainside, has a studio space with a separate entrance, as well as a small sauna and storage of Robb Report The 10 Priciest Neighborhoods in America (And How They Got to Be That Way) In Pictures: Most Expensive Properties Click here to read the full article.
Motor 1
a day ago
- Motor 1
Alpine: 'The Combustion Engine Is Not the Enemy'
Although governments are pushing consumers and automakers to buy electric vehicles, adoption isn't happening as quickly as expected. This has automakers pivoting back toward combustion engines, embracing hybrids as transitionary vehicles on the path toward full electrification. However, Alpine's chief hydrogen engineer believes the future will require several solutions to reduce emissions and that regulators have it wrong by outright banning the combustion engine. Pierre-Jean Tardy told , "The combustion engine is not the enemy," pointing out that the true enemy is fossil fuels and harmful emissions. He noted that combustion engines can run on carbon-free fuels, like hydrogen. However, he did admit that there is no one solution to how we power future vehicles and that it'll require a "mix" of sources. Photo by: Alpine There are several automakers experimenting with combustion hydrogen engines, including Toyota, Ford, and even Yamaha. However, the process of making hydrogen fuel, and most other synthetic types, often still relies on fossil fuels or requires massive amounts of energy, diminishing the benefits and increasing costs. Tardy is currently working to get the Alpine Alpenglow Hy6 to the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2028. It has a twin-turbo 3.5-liter V-6 engine that makes 730 horsepower and 568 pound-feet of torque. The Pivot Back Toward Combustion In the last few months, several automakers have announced they are pivoting back toward developing new cars with combustion engines. Fiat slipped a gas engine back into the electric 500 , broadening its appeal. Volkswagen's upcoming EV platform will be able to accommodate combustion powertrains . Mini has said it won't abandon gas , and Mazda is working on what it calls " the ideal internal combustion engine ." Other automakers have hedged their bets, creating platforms that can easily accommodate a range of different powertrain types based on demand. BMW's Neue Klasse platform , Stellantis's STLA architecture, and Scout's future truck and SUV will be able to offer the powertrains people want to buy. If combustion cars are going to stay on the road, an emission-free fuel they can burn is better than forcing EVs onto consumers who don't want them. Hydrogens Future: The New Hyundai Nexo Shows Hydrogen Isn't Dead Cummins Made a New Turbocharger for Hydrogen Engines Get the best news, reviews, columns, and more delivered straight to your inbox, daily. back Sign up For more information, read our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use . Source: Share this Story Facebook X LinkedIn Flipboard Reddit WhatsApp E-Mail Got a tip for us? Email: tips@ Join the conversation ( )
