THE GRANITE EAGLE

Two top Republican lawmakers are taking different approaches to the Claremont School District’s deepening financial crisis, reflecting a growing debate within the GOP over how to address local mismanagement without setting a costly precedent for state involvement.

Even as state officials warn of a budget crunch, Democrats are pressing for more education spending, starting with Claremont.

The board, dominated by Democratic-leaning members, is steering the district through a multimillion-dollar budget crisis even as data show Claremont voters lean more Republican. The mismatch has fueled criticism that the seven-member board, elected by just 9% of registered voters, lacks a real mandate.