At the request of many Republican delegates, voters, and local leaders, the Iron County Republican Party is taking a greater role in informing voters about non-partisan elections. Below are some issues the Iron County Executive Committee came to a consensus on.
Note: Due to Congressman Chris Stewart’s resignation, and the special election for Congressional District 2, election night will be held on November 21st.
The Iron County School District is presenting a debt bond proposal of approximately $70 million, with about half of the funds allocated for the construction of a new elementary school.
However, it is our contention that the School District should instead prioritize and await the availability of the Charter School alternative. Recently, a K-8 Charter School was approved with the option to expand to a full K-12 school.
Charter School facilities are fully funded by State funds at no-cost to Iron County taxpayers. They are tuition free and public – open and available to all families. Additionally, the enrollment in Charter Schools relies entirely on existing State funds, eliminating the need for property taxes to sustain ongoing operations.
Charter Schools, unique as tuition-free public institutions managed by parents rather than politicians, provide a platform for tailored and distinctive learning experiences beyond the scope of conventional district offerings. Embracing this option is projected to introduce a steady influx of $3 million in new State funding, stemming from the enrollment of students who are currently not utilizing district schools.
This decision presents a clear contrast: between a property tax increase and the advent of new State funding into our County, and between a choice steered by parents and one controlled by politicians. Opting against the bond not only prevents property tax hikes but also nurtures the introduction of fresh State funds and offers an array of parent-run alternatives.
In addition to the Charter School offering almost immediate relief to classrooms, the entire world, including America and Utah specifically, is facing a “depopulation bomb.” The minimum sustainable replacement rate for a society is 2.1, most of the world is at or below 1.9, and Utah fell below replacement rate in 2021, and California is at 1.5. this is a serious issue that few people seem to be discussing, but this resource is available for others to consider: https://www.ppic.org/blog/californias-plunging-birth-rates/
Yes, Utah’s population is growing, but it’s largely not young families that are moving in, as young families tend to have a very difficult time affording to live in Iron County. Already Washington County is considering closing Coral Cliffs Elementary due to lack of in-person enrollment. The majority of our growth seems to largely be retired residents from California and Nevada. That means more people paying property taxes who aren’t enrolling their children in the school, or in other words, more “free” revenue for the school district.
Lastly, the Utah School Choice bill passed this year and goes into effect next September, which gives public school teachers a pay raise, and makes tax dollars ($8,000 per student) follow the child. This means more parents will be able to afford homeschool, charter school, or private school than ever before. This also will allow teachers to get jobs with private or charter schools, negotiate different salaries based on performance, so it’s a win for teachers and students alike.
We wholeheartedly encourage you to oppose the proposed bond, guided by these compelling reasons and more. The rash approach to implement this new bond, when the previous one is expiring, in order to hide the impacts from residents, is not the ideal approach as it relates to transparency and accountability. This now or never mentality is irresponsible and an abdication of the fiduciary responsibility to be wise and transparent money managers.
We, the Republican Party of Iron County, want to address our recent call for the repeal of the RAP (Recreation, Arts, and Parks) Tax. Our statement has sparked discussions and raised concerns within our community, and we feel it’s essential to provide context to our stance. Our decision to call for the repeal of the RAP Tax stems from our concerns regarding its appropriate allocation and usage. The recent incident involving the Johnson Center (who has been the recipient of RAP tax funds) hosting a “family friendly” drag show, has prompted us to reevaluate the intended purpose of these funds, even to the extent of calling for them to be eliminated all together.
To preface, the Republican Platform states:
“We recognize the rights of the individual to own property. We resist any effort by government to take private property without an overwhelming need for public use. We strongly oppose the forfeiture of private property from innocent owners.
“We accept the necessity for limited taxation in order for government to perform and administer those services which meet essential public needs. However, we recognize that the power to tax is also the power to control, and believe that the best way to control government is to strictly control the amount of taxes imposed on the people. We encourage further simplification of tax systems, the elimination of the estate tax, and broad-based rate reduction where possible.”
At present, Cedar City residents face additional sales taxes on every purchase they make. This inevitably raises the cost of living, and warrants immediate attention. Government’s responsibility should lie in fostering an environment of ease and prosperity for its citizens, rather than introducing unnecessary hardships.
The RAP Tax Board is an unelected board in charge of redistributing citizen’s tax dollars. More than that, the board predominantly consists of those benefiting from these very funds. This scenario evokes the imagery of two wolves and a sheep deciding on dinner, with the sheep inevitably becoming the victim.
Our proposed reforms have unfortunately fallen on deaf ears or met outright rejection. These proposals encompass vital changes, such as directing a higher portion of funds towards the maintenance of existing parks, implementing stronger safeguards to ensure community-backed projects, enforcing ethics and conflict of interest regulations, and creating a board with a balanced composition featuring diverse experiences and perspectives. The claim that funneling sales tax revenue into these expenditures is a wiser allocation of funds than essential items in your family budget such as food, medications, fuel, and housing lacks persuasiveness. In this light, voters should actively oppose the RAP Tax.
If the RAP tax passes on the ballot, there will be no bargaining power to ensure funds are used more wisely in the future. If it fails, those who have benefitted from the RAP tax in the past would need to submit another proposal that better aligns with Cedar City resident’s values.
We firmly believe that tax dollars should be allocated responsibly, representing the values of our community. If the RAP tax were to remain in place, we demand a thorough examination of the RAP tax allocation, it’s governing boards, and the grant process.
The Iron County Republican Party Executive Committee took the opportunity to individually interview the four Republican candidates for Cedar City Council. The candidates are Tyler Melling, Brittany Fisher, Robert Cox and Carter Wilkey.
Each candidate was asked the same eight questions regarding the proper role of government, government’s role in encouraging morality and safety, the RAP tax, corruption, Cedar City’s high tax rates, the value of partisan elections and public library policy. The interviews lasted for about 45 minutes. The candidates were privately scored and ranked by the Executive Committee.
The purpose of the interviews was to discuss important local issues and see where the candidates stood on these issues. Should one candidate stand out from the pack either for better or worse, the party officers were prepared to publicly support the best candidates/candidate.
The Executive Committee enjoyed the time with the Republican candidates, the interviews went very well and the Executive Committee is grateful for the opportunity to participate in the election process. We encourage all Cedar City residents to vet the candidates as well.
If anyone is interested in how the candidates scored, they are welcome to contact the members of the Executive Committee using the contact form below:
The Iron County Republican Party wants to declare our endorsement and support for Celeste Maloy, the Republican candidate running for Utah’s Congressional District 2.
We met with Celeste Maloy, and feel she stands as a committed ally in ensuring that the unique needs of our local community are heard and addressed at the federal level in Washington, D.C. Her pledge to collaborate closely with us to represent Iron County’s concerns and interests in the nation’s capital is a testament to her commitment to serve the people she aims to represent. We look forward to helping her do this.
Electing Celeste Maloy will not only guarantee a powerful voice for our community in Congress but will also serve to uphold the principles and values integral to the Republican Party platform. We urge you, the voters of Utah’s Congressional District 2, to join us in supporting Celeste Maloy on the ballot. Let’s unite to elect a representative who will champion our local needs while upholding the core principles and values of the Republican Party.
We look towards a brighter and more prosperous future for our community and our nation.
