Iron County School District may switch to a four-day school week to cut costs, after the Utah State Tax Commission rejected its property tax hike in September — a move school officials had hoped would add $2.8 million to the district’s budget.
The district wasn’t alone, though. Thirty-five other government entities across Utah — from cities to fire departments to other school districts — also saw their increases denied, according to Jason Gardner, deputy executive director of the Utah State Tax Commission.
The denials followed a recent change to state law governing “Truth in Taxation,” a public hearing process that allows residents to learn about and comment on proposals to increase property taxes.
“We will not receive the increase,” said district spokesperson Shauna Lund, referring to the extra $2.8 million the district would have gotten. Until the district goes through the Truth in Taxation process again next school year, “We will receive what we were receiving before,” she said.
(Cinder Player | Special to The Tribune) Children play during recess at Cedar North Elementary School in Cedar City, Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2025.
Will a four-day school week save money?
Discussions about shortening the school week are still early, Lund said, and a traditional calendar remains a possibility. However, district officials have started looking into what savings a four-day week could offer.
“There would be initial cost savings for those first couple of years,” Lund said. “Currently, the research does not show much cost savings after that.”
Superintendent Lance Hatch presented initial estimates to board members during a board work meeting last month. One of the biggest areas of savings would be transportation. A shorter work week could result in $300,000 saved per year, Hatch said.
The district is also considering freezing cost-of-living raises – pay increases to cover the rising cost of goods and services due to inflation – for at least two years, Lund said.
Eligible employees would still get their regular “step” or “lane” salary increases, or raises tied to such factors as tenure, performance and education level, Lund said.
The board hopes to make its final budget decisions by January, Lund said.
State law requires Utah public schools must operate for at least 180 instructional days each year — unless they’re granted an exception, or a “waiver” from the USBE.
If USBE approves the request, districts must still offer a minimum of 990 hours of instructional time, according to state law.
Districts can also submit waivers for emergencies, such as weather events, or other situations that cut into the required number of school days.
To meet the state’s minimum instructional hour requirements, the Iron County School District would extend each school day, Lund said. The extension would vary depending on school level, but no school would see more than about 30 additional minutes a day, she said.
Parents and staff appear supportive, with about 66% of parents and 70% of employees saying in a recent survey that they preferred a four-day week for 2026-27.
Other considerations are still being weighed, Lund said, including the potential impact on students who rely on school meals and parents’ concerns about day care for younger children.
(Cinder Player | Special to The Tribune) Children play during recess at Cedar North Elementary School in Cedar City, Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2025.
Why was Iron County School District denied its tax increase?
The Utah Legislature passed SB202 in this year’s session, and Gov. Spencer Cox signed it. It updated the state’s Truth in Taxation law, by requiring that the tax commission deny tax increases to entities that fail to comply with the process, said Gardner. The former law was silent on any consequences.
“The legislature didn’t like that we were being as lenient as we were,” Gardner said. “So they took away our discretion to be lenient.”
SB202 also added a few requirements that school boards and other government entities must meet during the hearings, including allowing for “in-person or virtual” participation.
That’s where the tax commission told the Iron County School District it had missed the mark, said Lund.
While the district livestreamed its Aug. 19 Truth in Taxation hearing on YouTube, the platform didn’t allow for interactive virtual participation, where attendees could appear on screen and speak, Lund said.
In a notice posted on the district’s website, officials said they received a letter of denial from the tax commission on Sept. 19, informing them that they had failed to meet the new virtual participation requirement.
“Even though the district livestreamed the public hearing on YouTube, which made it available for taxpayers to attend or participate remotely, the tax commission’s interpretation of this requirement resulted in the denial of the adopted certified tax rate,” the notice read.
It also noted district officials were informed by the tax commission that “over 60%” of all entities that had proposed tax increases were also denied for “various reasons.”
The rejection followed a failed $75.5 million bond proposal in 2023, Lund said.
The bond — which, according to the district’s website, failed by just 24 votes — would have been used to build a new elementary school, renovate a high school, construct an “alternative programs” building, install artificial turf, and pay for ADA-accessible playgrounds.
Residents can offer feedback on the four-day week during three upcoming open houses. All will take place simultaneously on Tuesday, Dec. 2, at 6 p.m., at three different high schools. They are:
A separate staff open house is scheduled for Friday, Dec. 5, at 2 p.m., but as of Tuesday the location has yet to be determined.