Facility Maintenance Fund

In fiscal year 2027, approximately $23.0 million in districtwide general maintenance and operations expenditures will be funded through the restricted Capital Fund, which includes nearly $1.0 million in additional capital tax levy revenue specifically earmarked to address deferred maintenance needs throughout the district. This was all made possible by the tax increase that was approved by the board in August 2026. This maintenance fund has not increased in over 30 years despite ongoing challenges with escalating costs to maintain the oldest school buildings (on average) in the State of Utah. We continue to use our pay-as-you-go model to rebuild and remodel our facilities. This facility maintenance helps offset much needed updates such as playground equipment, carpet, and HVAC systems in our buildings that are not slated for rebuild. 

Pay-as-you-Go Rebuild/Remodel

As a reminder for District patrons, Granite School District’s pay-as-you-go model is a long-term strategy for funding school facility improvements while reducing the need for future voter-approved bonds. Adopted as part of the district’s 2017 capital/construction strategy, the approach was designed to address a significant backlog of aging school buildings. The plan combined an initial bond to fund major construction projects with a commitment to save for additional projects using property tax revenue. Rather than reducing the capital tax levy as bond payments are paid off, the district retains that revenue and redirects it toward its capital fund.

As existing bonds are paid off, the revenue previously used for debt service is transferred to the capital/construction levy, allowing the district to save up funds to pay for future construction and renovations without incurring new debt. Under this model, the district must have the money available before beginning projects funded through pay-as-you-go. Those funds are intended to support a 40-year list of facility improvements, including school rebuilds and remodels. The long-term goal is to create a sustainable funding source for capital/construction needs that could eliminate the need for significant tax increases in the future, while maintaining the district’s commitment to address aging facilities.