BVSD is asking to raise property taxes for 30 years in order to repair, replace, and improve current facilities and build new facilities. The new tax would be $47 per $100,000 of assessed property value per year.
Nearly 50% of the $576M bond request is for “extending the life of existing buildings,” according to the campaign website. The examples listed are “roofs, electrical, plumbing, heating, ventilation, air conditioning systems, new flooring, paint, ceilings, increase energy efficiency by upgrading lighting, fine tuning HVAC controls, and follow BVSD’s green building principles.”
Almost 20% of the money is for a new school in Erie and to replace Emerald, Douglass and Creekside elementary schools. Close to 10% is for central administration construction (kitchen, transportation, technology) or renovation (maintenance/warehouse). The remaining bond money would go primarily toward the following areas in descending dollar order: Program Compatibility (what the 2006 bond emphasized), Health and Physical Development, Early Childhood Education, Educational Innovation, Sustainability, and IT.
Recommendation: no
In 2011 I objected to the city of Boulder’s bond for capital improvements because “we could be paying for new repairs (if we have the money) and not yet be finished paying for old repairs.” That bond was for 20 years. This bond is planned for 30 years so BVSD could present us with even more opportunities to realize this scenario.
A bond to build a new school in Erie would be a reasonable request, but half of the bond going for maintenance is unreasonable. BVSD voters approved a bond for $64M in 1998 and one for $296.8M in 2006. The taxpayers won’t always be able to afford a new and bigger bond every 8 years. It’s time for BVSD to figure out a long-term plan for funding maintenance.
Compare this bond to the 2012 Denver Public Schools bond which also included some maintenance projects but which will be paid back in a shorter span of time.
BVSD $576M repayment $1.35 billion term ~30 years
DPS $466M repayment $738M term ~20 years
The Yes campaign website says that there is “not adequate state funding” to provide education services and maintain buildings. Perhaps that was a bad choice of words because in 2009-10 state funding only accounted for about 30% of BVSD’s per-pupil funding. This is according to BVSD’s Budget Perspectives which doesn’t seem to be have been published since 2010. One wonders if publishing stopped because in 2010 the generous BVSD voters quickly passed the maximum mill levy override when the legislature allowed school districts to get annually 25% of base funding (aka total program funding) rather than a specific dollar amount up to 20% of base funding. I had my qualms about supporting that override.
If this bond were for 15 years or just for new schools which would last for more than 30 years, I could support it, but we’re not doing our kids and grandkids any favors by kicking the bill down the road to them with not much to show for it at the end of 30 years.
Website for the Yes side (Vote Yes on 3A)
http://yeson3a.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 DEBT BE INCREASED $576,520,000 WITH A REPAYMENT COST OF UP TO $1,351,017,635, AND SHALL DISTRICT TAXES BE INCREASED UP TO $56,097,800 ANNUALLY TO PAY SUCH DEBT, ALL FOR THE PURPOSES DESCRIBED IN THE DISTRICT’S EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES MASTER PLAN APPROVED BY THE BOARD OF EDUCATION AND MONITORED BY A CITIZENS’ BOND OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE FOLLOWING:
- INVESTING IN ALL DISTRICT SCHOOLS, SITES AND FACILITIES BY REPAIRING, REPLACING, AND/OR UPGRADING INFRASTRUCTURE, BUILDING SYSTEMS AND FINISHES FOR THE PURPOSES OF IMPROVING THE LEARNING AND WORK ENVIRONMENT FOR STUDENTS AND STAFF, INCREASING FUNCTIONALITY AND EFFICIENCY OF DISTRICT-WIDE SUPPORT FACILITIES, EXTENDING THE LIFE OF BUILDINGS; IMPROVING ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND CREATING SAFER ENVIRONMENTS;
- ADDRESSING THE EDUCATIONAL DEFICIENCIES IN DISTRICT SCHOOLS BY MODERNIZING, EXPANDING AND CONSTRUCTING LEARNING SPACES SUCH AS BUT NOT LIMITED TO CLASSROOMS, PERFORMANCE SPACES, FITNESS FACILITIES, SPECIAL EDUCATION DEDICATED SPACES AND SPACES THAT SUPPORT INNOVATIVE EDUCATIONAL DELIVERY;
- EXPANDING FULL-DAY KINDERGARTEN OPPORTUNITIES AND PRESCHOOL PROGRAMS BY RENOVATING, ENLARGING AND CONSTRUCTING EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION SPACES;
- CONSTRUCTING AND EQUIPPING A SCHOOL CAMPUS TO SERVE GRADES PRE-K THROUGH 8 IN ERIE, COLORADO TO ACCOMMODATE ENROLLMENT GROWTH AND INVESTING IN THE REPLACEMENT OF SELECT SCHOOLS THAT HAVE EXCEEDED THEIR SERVICE LIVES;
AND, TO THE EXTENT FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE, FOR OTHER CAPITAL EXPENDITURES RELATED TO CONSTRUCTING, REPAIRING AND EQUIPPING DISTRICT BUILDINGS, AND SHALL THE MILL LEVY BE INCREASED IN ANY YEAR WITHOUT LIMITATION AS TO RATE AND AMOUNT SUFFICIENT TO PAY THE PRINCIPAL OF, PREMIUM, IF ANY, AND INTEREST ON SUCH DEBT OR ANY REFUNDING DEBT (OR TO CREATE A RESERVE FOR SUCH PAYMENT); SUCH DEBT TO BE EVIDENCED BY THE ISSUANCE OF GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS TO BE SOLD IN ONE SERIES OR MORE, FOR A PRICE ABOVE OR BELOW THE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF SUCH SERIES, ON TERMS AND CONDITIONS AND WITH SUCH MATURITIES AS PERMITTED BY LAW, INCLUDING PROVISIONS FOR REDEMPTION OF THE BONDS PRIOR TO MATURITY WITH OR WITHOUT PAYMENT OF A PREMIUM OF NOT TO EXCEED ONE PERCENT; AND SHALL THE DISTRICT BE AUTHORIZED TO ISSUE DEBT TO REFUND THE DEBT AUTHORIZED IN THIS QUESTION, PROVIDED THAT AFTER THE ISSUANCE OF SUCH REFUNDING DEBT THE TOTAL OUTSTANDING PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF ALL DEBT ISSUED PURSUANT TO THIS QUESTION DOES NOT EXCEED THE MAXIMUM PRINCIPAL AMOUNT SET FORTH ABOVE; AND PROVIDED FURTHER THAT ALL DEBT ISSUED BY THE DISTRICT PURSUANT TO THIS QUESTION IS ISSUED ON TERMS THAT DO NOT EXCEED THE REPAYMENT COSTS AUTHORIZED IN THIS QUESTION; AND SHALL SUCH TAX REVENUES AND THE EARNINGS FROM THE INVESTMENT OF SUCH BOND PROCEEDS AND TAX REVENUES BE COLLECTED, RETAINED AND SPENT 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 OR ANY OTHER LAW?
YES______
NO______
See BVSD RE-2 Resolution No. 14-20 to refer 3A to the voters.
http://www.boarddocs.com/co/bvsd/Board.nsf/files/9MT8PW721940/$file/Boulder%20Valley%20Schools%20-%20Election%20Resolution%20(2014).pdf
BVSD 2014 Educational Facilities Master Plan
http://bvsd.org/CapitalImprovements/Documents/EdFacilityMasterPlan.pdf
Nearly 50% of the $576M bond request is for “extending the life of existing buildings,” according to the campaign website. The examples listed are “roofs, electrical, plumbing, heating, ventilation, air conditioning systems, new flooring, paint, ceilings, increase energy efficiency by upgrading lighting, fine tuning HVAC controls, and follow BVSD’s green building principles.”
Almost 20% of the money is for a new school in Erie and to replace Emerald, Douglass and Creekside elementary schools. Close to 10% is for central administration construction (kitchen, transportation, technology) or renovation (maintenance/warehouse). The remaining bond money would go primarily toward the following areas in descending dollar order: Program Compatibility (what the 2006 bond emphasized), Health and Physical Development, Early Childhood Education, Educational Innovation, Sustainability, and IT.
Recommendation: no
In 2011 I objected to the city of Boulder’s bond for capital improvements because “we could be paying for new repairs (if we have the money) and not yet be finished paying for old repairs.” That bond was for 20 years. This bond is planned for 30 years so BVSD could present us with even more opportunities to realize this scenario.
A bond to build a new school in Erie would be a reasonable request, but half of the bond going for maintenance is unreasonable. BVSD voters approved a bond for $64M in 1998 and one for $296.8M in 2006. The taxpayers won’t always be able to afford a new and bigger bond every 8 years. It’s time for BVSD to figure out a long-term plan for funding maintenance.
Compare this bond to the 2012 Denver Public Schools bond which also included some maintenance projects but which will be paid back in a shorter span of time.
BVSD $576M repayment $1.35 billion term ~30 years
DPS $466M repayment $738M term ~20 years
The Yes campaign website says that there is “not adequate state funding” to provide education services and maintain buildings. Perhaps that was a bad choice of words because in 2009-10 state funding only accounted for about 30% of BVSD’s per-pupil funding. This is according to BVSD’s Budget Perspectives which doesn’t seem to be have been published since 2010. One wonders if publishing stopped because in 2010 the generous BVSD voters quickly passed the maximum mill levy override when the legislature allowed school districts to get annually 25% of base funding (aka total program funding) rather than a specific dollar amount up to 20% of base funding. I had my qualms about supporting that override.
If this bond were for 15 years or just for new schools which would last for more than 30 years, I could support it, but we’re not doing our kids and grandkids any favors by kicking the bill down the road to them with not much to show for it at the end of 30 years.
Website for the Yes side (Vote Yes on 3A)
http://yeson3a.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 DEBT BE INCREASED $576,520,000 WITH A REPAYMENT COST OF UP TO $1,351,017,635, AND SHALL DISTRICT TAXES BE INCREASED UP TO $56,097,800 ANNUALLY TO PAY SUCH DEBT, ALL FOR THE PURPOSES DESCRIBED IN THE DISTRICT’S EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES MASTER PLAN APPROVED BY THE BOARD OF EDUCATION AND MONITORED BY A CITIZENS’ BOND OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE FOLLOWING:
- INVESTING IN ALL DISTRICT SCHOOLS, SITES AND FACILITIES BY REPAIRING, REPLACING, AND/OR UPGRADING INFRASTRUCTURE, BUILDING SYSTEMS AND FINISHES FOR THE PURPOSES OF IMPROVING THE LEARNING AND WORK ENVIRONMENT FOR STUDENTS AND STAFF, INCREASING FUNCTIONALITY AND EFFICIENCY OF DISTRICT-WIDE SUPPORT FACILITIES, EXTENDING THE LIFE OF BUILDINGS; IMPROVING ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND CREATING SAFER ENVIRONMENTS;
- ADDRESSING THE EDUCATIONAL DEFICIENCIES IN DISTRICT SCHOOLS BY MODERNIZING, EXPANDING AND CONSTRUCTING LEARNING SPACES SUCH AS BUT NOT LIMITED TO CLASSROOMS, PERFORMANCE SPACES, FITNESS FACILITIES, SPECIAL EDUCATION DEDICATED SPACES AND SPACES THAT SUPPORT INNOVATIVE EDUCATIONAL DELIVERY;
- EXPANDING FULL-DAY KINDERGARTEN OPPORTUNITIES AND PRESCHOOL PROGRAMS BY RENOVATING, ENLARGING AND CONSTRUCTING EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION SPACES;
- CONSTRUCTING AND EQUIPPING A SCHOOL CAMPUS TO SERVE GRADES PRE-K THROUGH 8 IN ERIE, COLORADO TO ACCOMMODATE ENROLLMENT GROWTH AND INVESTING IN THE REPLACEMENT OF SELECT SCHOOLS THAT HAVE EXCEEDED THEIR SERVICE LIVES;
AND, TO THE EXTENT FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE, FOR OTHER CAPITAL EXPENDITURES RELATED TO CONSTRUCTING, REPAIRING AND EQUIPPING DISTRICT BUILDINGS, AND SHALL THE MILL LEVY BE INCREASED IN ANY YEAR WITHOUT LIMITATION AS TO RATE AND AMOUNT SUFFICIENT TO PAY THE PRINCIPAL OF, PREMIUM, IF ANY, AND INTEREST ON SUCH DEBT OR ANY REFUNDING DEBT (OR TO CREATE A RESERVE FOR SUCH PAYMENT); SUCH DEBT TO BE EVIDENCED BY THE ISSUANCE OF GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS TO BE SOLD IN ONE SERIES OR MORE, FOR A PRICE ABOVE OR BELOW THE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF SUCH SERIES, ON TERMS AND CONDITIONS AND WITH SUCH MATURITIES AS PERMITTED BY LAW, INCLUDING PROVISIONS FOR REDEMPTION OF THE BONDS PRIOR TO MATURITY WITH OR WITHOUT PAYMENT OF A PREMIUM OF NOT TO EXCEED ONE PERCENT; AND SHALL THE DISTRICT BE AUTHORIZED TO ISSUE DEBT TO REFUND THE DEBT AUTHORIZED IN THIS QUESTION, PROVIDED THAT AFTER THE ISSUANCE OF SUCH REFUNDING DEBT THE TOTAL OUTSTANDING PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF ALL DEBT ISSUED PURSUANT TO THIS QUESTION DOES NOT EXCEED THE MAXIMUM PRINCIPAL AMOUNT SET FORTH ABOVE; AND PROVIDED FURTHER THAT ALL DEBT ISSUED BY THE DISTRICT PURSUANT TO THIS QUESTION IS ISSUED ON TERMS THAT DO NOT EXCEED THE REPAYMENT COSTS AUTHORIZED IN THIS QUESTION; AND SHALL SUCH TAX REVENUES AND THE EARNINGS FROM THE INVESTMENT OF SUCH BOND PROCEEDS AND TAX REVENUES BE COLLECTED, RETAINED AND SPENT 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 OR ANY OTHER LAW?
YES______
NO______
See BVSD RE-2 Resolution No. 14-20 to refer 3A to the voters.
http://www.boarddocs.com/co/bvsd/Board.nsf/files/9MT8PW721940/$file/Boulder%20Valley%20Schools%20-%20Election%20Resolution%20(2014).pdf
BVSD 2014 Educational Facilities Master Plan
http://bvsd.org/CapitalImprovements/Documents/EdFacilityMasterPlan.pdf
No comments:
Post a Comment
Thanks for your comments. Please only make comments that add to a fruitful discussion.