Utah committee backs bill to allow referendums on school board fiscal decisions

Representative Shipp introduced H.B.170, saying the bill would make school-board actions that affect local revenue subject to referendum, noting school boards are currently the only local legislative body in Utah not covered by such a process. "School boards are the only legislative body in the state that is not subject to a referendum process," Shipp said, framing the proposal as bringing school districts into parity with other local governments.

Supporters, including Billy Hesterman of the Utah Taxpayers Association, argued the bill gives taxpayers a tool to check large local tax increases; Hesterman said school districts account for roughly 60% of a typical property-tax bill and that an emergency referendum option and supermajority safeguards make the proposal workable. "We hope you'll support it," Hesterman said of taxpayers' access to a referendum process.

Granite School District business administrator Todd Haber, testifying for the Utah Association of School Business Officials, opposed parts of the measure on timing grounds. Haber warned the statutory calendar for tax certification and county tax notices (certify rates by June 22; county publishes notices around July) leaves insufficient time to complete a referendum and then update tax notices by the Nov. 30 deadline. "Placing that under referendum does not allow enough time to comply with all the truth-in-taxation filing deadlines," Haber said.

Committee members asked about existing court authority and constitutional language. Representative Shipp referenced prior briefing materials noting constitutional drafting and said the question of school district referendums may ultimately be litigated; he said the bill includes expedited-mail options used elsewhere.

After public comment and discussion the committee voted to favorably recommend the second substitute of H.B.170 by a 3–1 margin, with Senator Escamilla recorded in opposition. The committee’s recommendation sends the bill to the next stage of consideration.