Ballots for the November election will arrive in Summit County mailboxes this week. On the local ballot, voters will be asked the approve Issue 4A, Summit School District’s $195.4 million wish list of items.

Summit County has a long record of voting to raise taxes its taxes, although voters did join the statewide property tax revolt last November. The total repayment cost of the bonds for this proposal is $383.7 million, and it comes on the heels of significant recent inflation and huge property tax and insurance increases. It will be interesting to see what kind of tax and spending mood local taxpayers are in this fall.

When it comes to ballot questions, government loves to bundle items unlikely to pass on their own merits with more popular enticements to push the duds through. Summit School District is no exception. Ballot Issue 4A is a prime example of why voters should demand single-issue ballot questions. Let’s take a closer look at Issue 4A.

Issue 4A promises a new programmatic focus on career and technical education and commits $32 million to new classroom and laboratory spaces in support of this goal. Conceptually, I am in strong support of more intentional mentoring, skilled-trades training and teaching career-specific skills that offer students opportunities to enter the job market with more useful skills, helps them earn higher wages and helps fill the skilled-trade voids in our community. Although, I question how Summit School District will measure and quantify the efficacy of this new endeavor, I would be inclined to support the career and technical education component of 4A as a stand-alone ballot issue.

Next, 4A commits $37 million to construct a new Snowy Peaks High School facility on the Summit High School campus and to relocate Snowy Peaks from its current Summit Middle School site. According to school officials, Snowy Peaks has been an effective alternative for students requiring a more individualized high school experience. While there may be shared facility benefits from co-locating the two high schools, it may also undermine Snowy Peaks’ unique culture that has led to its success. More cynically, Summit School District officials seem to want the existing Snowy Peaks space at Summit Middle School for the after-school community center/clinic space that polled so poorly that it was dropped from the 4A ballot. This desired outcome is not worth $37 million.

During my tenure as Silverthorne mayor — and before the first spade of dirt was turned on Smith Ranch — the town offered to partner with Summit School District to construct workforce housing on the old Silverthorne Elementary site. Had the school system accepted the town’s offer, there would already be teacher housing available! While it may be better late than never, there is zero need for taxpayers to foot the bill for the school system to arrogantly act on its own when all the towns and the county backstroke in existing tax revenue for construction of workforce housing. Summit Schools are barely fulfilling their core mission. They do not need $46 million to duplicate revenue and services readily available from local government. Just cooperate with other local partners!

4A requests $33.6 million for deferred maintenance and other facility upgrades, such as Internet, kitchen equipment, bathroom remodels and mental health spaces. Although significant remodel costs can exceed regular maintenance funds, these are items that should be presented to voters on their own merits with more specificity.

Finally, 4A requests $46.8 million to demolish and rebuild Breckenridge Elementary. Colorado’s state demographer cannot be more clear: the native-born, under-19 population is declining statewide! There is no evidence this trend is going to reverse anytime soon. If Breckenridge Elementary is in such poor condition, school officials should be planning to close Breckenridge Elementary and consolidate it with Upper Blue Elementary. They could sell the land for a fortune that could be used to help finance other deferred maintenance items, raise teacher pay or spend the money in classrooms.

It is no secret that Summit School District is struggling to achieve minimum academic standards. School officials need to focus on improving student achievement before asking for expensive new amenities. If you want Summit School District’s academic performance to improve, vote NO on 4A and demand accountability before approving any new taxes.

Bruce Butler's column "Common Sense Conversations" publishes biweekly on Tuesdays in the Summit Daily News. Butler is a former mayor and council member in Silverthorne, where he has lived for 20 years. Contact him at butlerincolorado@gmail.com.