Vote Oct 14-Nov 4
John T. Gadd
for Timpanogos School Board - Seat 2
Let's Spend Smarter!
I am an attorney with 20 years of experience. As a partner, I was co-owner of the business. I helped set and manage a multi-million-dollar budget. I hired, trained, and managed employees. And I made critical financial decisions to best meet the needs of our growing business. I am a long-time resident of Pleasant Grove, living right over the border from Lindon, where my wife and I have raised our six children. My core values, both personal and political, are rooted in strong families, practical common-sense spending, respect for all human beings, upholding the Constitution, and building/maintaining strong personal and business relationships. I will bring my extensive business and personal experience to the new school board by cutting wasteful spending and prioritizing what matters most - great teaching for great children!
LET'S SPEND SMARTER!
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The school board raised our property taxes 12 times in the past 8 years! (See votes here).
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In 2024, the school board compensated 118 of its administrators more than $200k, with the highest-paid administrator making $366,736.17. (See list here).
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In the last 4 years, the school board closed 3 elementary schools in our area (the area of the new Timpanogos School District), while the school board built or announced 4 extravagant new schools elsewhere in the school district.
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The number of students in our area continues to decline – a trend that has been steady for the last 8 years. (See graph below).
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Our school district is funded by 3 types of taxes: state income taxes (58%), local property taxes (32%), and federal income taxes (4%) (the remaining 6% comes from other local sources). (See budget here). Federal and state income taxes are set by the federal and state governments. But local property taxes are set by our local school board. In other words, school board members decide (by vote) on the amount of money they will tax us each year in our property taxes.
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With our area’s declining enrollment (see graph above) and ever-increasing property tax revenue, our new school district will be able to (and should!) educate our children without our school board raising our property taxes.
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When the school board recently raised our taxes for the 12th time in 8 years, my opponent, Jen Lyman, actually said she was “grateful” for this latest annual increase to our property taxes! (See her Facebook post here). And she is on record stating that she is "open to" raising our property taxes if she is elected. (See her statements here).
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Big outside money has a corrupting influence on our local elections. In the primary election, my opponent, Lyman, accepted a $3,000 donation from the mayor of Pleasant Grove, Guy Fugal. (See her financial disclosure here). Mayor Fugal does not live in our voting district and is actually running for another seat on the new school board. Last Fall, Mayor Fugal sabotaged our ability to vote on whether we wanted a new school district in the first place. (See 4-city meeting here). Now he wants to control not only his own seat on the new school board but also the seat next door that is supposed to represent Lindon and south Pleasant Grove by personally funding Lyman's campaign. Lyman also accepted a $1,000 donation from a powerful Political Action Committee (PAC) based in Davis County. (See her financial disclosure here). Lyman spent $6,371 in the primary – most school board candidates spent less than $1,000.
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My TOP priority is to spend our tax dollars more efficiently. I intend to use my business knowledge and expertise to budget and allocate district funds in a way that benefits our children, teachers, families, and all residents, while stopping runaway property tax increases by the new school board.
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I am not "grateful" for increased property taxes. And I will not only fight AGAINST constant property tax increases, but will fight FOR smarter, more efficient spending and use of our taxpayer dollars. I was inspired by incredible teachers and educators in my youth. Our children deserve the same!
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The math is simple! Taxes don't need to go up. As enrollment declines, while property tax revenue increases, per-pupil spending will naturally and incrementally increase. The new school board can spend more per student annually without raising property taxes.
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We do not need an expensive new district building for the new school district. Using unused space in our neighborhood schools for office space, district employees can be housed in a neighborhood school where they will be easily accessible as a resource for teachers and staff. This also allows us to keep these neighborhood schools open despite declining enrollment. Let’s put the unused space to use rather than raising our property taxes to build an unnecessary district office building.
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We can utilize the 3 closed schools. The 3 closed schools in our area are district assets. Rather than sitting unused, let’s either use those buildings for district offices or sell those properties to raise revenue that will offset district expenses (e.g., maintaining current school buildings, classroom resources, student achievement, extra-curricular programs, etc.).
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Let teachers do what they do best - TEACH! The new school board should prioritize teaching resources rather than building extravagant school buildings and boosting administrator salaries. School board members should shift money from building extravagant school buildings to supporting teachers and teaching resources. Frivolous spending MUST stop!
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My campaign is self-funded. I am not beholden to any outside politicians or PACs, and I will represent all children, teachers, families, and residents in our voting district independently and according to my core values.
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We can avoid constant property tax increases. The new school board MUST cut wasteful spending and prioritize what matters most - great teaching!
Best Lines from the Candidate Debate:
John Gadd: "I will never vote for a tax increase. Never. Never. I'm not open to more tax increases. I think we've been taxed to death and the people in our area are suffering." (See 47:03-47:12).
Jen Lyman: "I will never say never as far as tax increases." (See 58:56-59:00).