Utah’s Alpine School District Board of Education has unanimously approved a $238 million lease revenue bond to construct a new high school in Saratoga Springs and a new elementary school in Eagle Mountain.
Alpine is the state’s largest public school district, serving more than 80,000 students across a mix of urban and rural communities in Utah County. That geographic diversity already presents challenges in transportation, staffing and resource allocation—issues worsened by rapid population growth in the western region, particularly in Eagle Mountain and Saratoga Springs.
Although voter-approved property tax increases in 2023 and 2024 helped strengthen the district’s financial position, legal limitations tied to the ongoing district split restricted traditional bond financing.
The passage of Senate Bill 188 in 2025 gave districts a new path by allowing the use of lease revenue bonds (LRBs) to fund capital projects. Once the planned West District becomes operational in 2027, it will assume responsibility for the bond debt.
The lease revenue bond model helps the district sidestep several common hurdles:
- No new taxes are required.
- The bond relies on the district’s financial health, bolstered by recent tax increases.
- Lease payments will come from the district’s general operating budget, which includes state and local revenues.
- The LRB structure does not require voter approval.
Education research supports addressing school overcrowding through facility expansion or district realignment. Smaller, appropriately scaled schools are linked to improved academic outcomes, stronger student-teacher relationships, fewer disciplinary issues and greater operational efficiency. Purpose-built spaces also reduce safety risks and support student well-being.
