Boulder Valley School District 3A -- Mill Levy

Colorado attempts to provide an equitable amount of base funding for each student. Property tax mill levies fund a large portion of school districts. To achieve equity, the state supplements districts having low property values with more state funding. However, the state, by allowing districts to ask voters for extra money through a mill levy override, reverses some of its equalization efforts.

Until this year districts could ask for a specific dollar amount equivalent to up to 20% of the base funding, called total program funding. With inflation the requested amount, which originally might have equaled 20%, over time becomes a smaller percentage of the total program funding. The school district can then ask for another override for the difference. Currently, BVSD has 3 overrides in effect equaling about 16% of total program funding.

This year the legislature changed the law to allow districts to ask for up to 25% of total program funding. Unlike in the past, the district no longer needs to ask for a specific dollar amount. If the voters approve this measure, then each year BVSD can calculate 25% of its total program funding and set the mill levy override accordingly. If less funding is deemed necessary, BVSD is not required to impose the full override amount, but schools always want more money for education so asking for less money seems unlikely. The 2011 property tax on a $100,000 residential property would increase by about $37.

Passing this override means that BVSD voters would never vote on another override in the future (unless the state legislature increases the ceiling again or Amendment 60 passes).

Next school year's step increases (which correlate to experience) and cost-of-living increases for BVSD teachers are dependent upon the passage of this ballot issue (Camera, Aug 25). BVSD also hopes to fund more early childhood education programs to close the achievement gap. The new revenue goes into BVSD's general fund.

Resolution No. 10-25 to refer Ballot Issue 3A passed unanimously at the Aug 24, 2010 BVSD Board of Education meeting.

Recommendation: lean toward yes

This ballot issue is problematic. It takes away some school board accountability by no longer allowing voters to approve future overrides. Unlike Issue 1A, this ballot language provides no indication that BVSD might ever impose less than the maximum mill levy on property owners.

This is a tough time to ask for a permanent, "maximum" tax increase (and especially tough for the Fourmile Canyon folks who lost their homes). However, I'd like the school district to be able to focus on educating children rather than on fundraising. If we can be assured that the money will be spent well, the tax icrease will be a good investment.


Website for the Yes side
http://votechildrenfirst.org/

Website for the No side
No known website -- Info on an opposition website appreciated.


Approved Ballot Language

BOULDER VALLEY SCHOOL DISTRICT RE-2 BALLOT ISSUE 3A

SHALL BOULDER VALLEY SCHOOL DISTRICT RE 2 TAXES BE INCREASED BY $22,500,000 DOLLARS IN 2010 FOR COLLECTION IN THE 2011 CALENDAR YEAR, AND BY SUCH AMOUNTS AS MAY BE COLLECTED ANNUALLY THEREAFTER BY THE IMPOSITION OF A MILL LEVY WHICH GENERATES REVENUE, WHICH TOGETHER WITH THE REVENUES PRODUCED BY PREVIOUS VOTER AUTHORIZED TAX INCREASES OF THE DISTRICT UNDER 22-54-108, C.R.S., AS AMENDED, IS NOT GREATER THAN TWENTY-FIVE PERCENT OF THE DISTRICT’S TOTAL PROGRAM FUNDING PLUS SUPPLEMENTAL COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENT, TO BE USED FOR GENERAL FUND PURPOSES, WHICH MAY INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO:
· RESTORING CRITICAL BUDGET CUTS;
· MITIGATING FUTURE BUDGET CUTS;
· SUPPLEMENTING TEACHER AND STAFF COMPENSATION;
· FUNDING EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION PROGRAMS;
AND SHALL SUCH INCREASE BE AN ADDITIONAL PROPERTY TAX MILL LEVY IN EXCESS OF THE LEVIES THE DISTRICT IS OTHERWISE AUTHORIZED BY LAW TO IMPOSE; AND SHALL THE DISTRICT BE AUTHORIZED TO COLLECT, RETAIN AND SPEND ALL REVENUES FROM SUCH TAXES AND THE EARNINGS FROM THE INVESTMENT OF SUCH REVENUES AS A VOTER APPROVED REVENUE CHANGE AND AN EXCEPTION TO THE LIMITS WHICH WOULD OTHERWISE APPLY UNDER ARTICLE X, SECTION 20 OF THE COLORADO CONSTITUTION?

YES _____ NO _____


See the last 9 pages of the Aug 24, 2010 BVSD Board of Directors meeting agenda for Resolution No. 10-25.
http://bvsd.org/boe/Pages/default.aspx