In the 2013 Colorado legislative session, the House and Senate passed
Senate Bill 13-213 providing for sweeping changes in how schools, school
districts and Charter School Institute (CSI) schools would be funded in the
future. This legislation will only be enacted if the voters of Colorado pass Amendment
66, The Tax Increase for Education Initiative on November 5th 2013. This measure asks voters to
increase state taxes by approximately $950 million. If the ballot initiative
passes, Senate Bill 13-213 would take effect in the 2015-16 school year.
Animas High School will receive additional revenue if the measure is
successful. The chart below represents an estimate of the per pupil funding
increase and revenue increase due to the proposed Mill Levy Equalization for
Animas High School. Using AHS’s 2012-13 Funded Pupil Count Number, the school
would expect an overall increase in PPR revenues in 2015-16 of $1,947,701.55.
Additionally, Animas High School will
receive the same per pupil mill levy override money as our accounting district
(Durango School District 9-R), approximately 1,777.61 per funded pupil based on
local override mill levies as calculated by CSI staff. If the measure is
successful, Animas
High School would also realize an increase in funding for capital construction,
estimated at $450 per pupil in school year 2014-15. AHS currently receives
$92.51 per pupil in school year 2013-14.
Animas High School-Charter
School Institute
Per Pupil
Revenue Comparison Before and After Implementation of SB 213
(The New School Finance
Act)
2012-13 Funded Pupil
Count
|
2012-13 Per Pupil Revenue
|
2013-14 Est. Per Pupil
Revenue (2% increase from 2012-13)
|
2013-14 Using SB 213 Est.
Per Pupil Revenue
|
Difference from Est.
2013-14 before and after SB 213 factors applied
|
Increase due to mill levy
equalization
|
237
|
6,170.34
|
6,293.75
|
8,218.15
|
1,924.40
|
1,777.61
|
Source: CDE Website
The Colorado Fair Campaign Practices Act (FCPA)
prohibits public entities from spending public funds to influence the outcome
of a political campaign or a ballot issue. As public entities, CSI schools and
Animas High School are covered by the FCPA.
The purpose of the FCPA is to prohibit Colorado public entities and
their employees from spending public funds to influence the outcome of a
political campaign or a ballot issue.
However, under the exemption clause of the FCPA,
CSI schools that would be directly affected by this ballot issue are permitted
to provide objective information to stakeholders regarding how this measure
would affect their school. Additionally, schools may respond to questions about
the ballot issue if the question is unsolicited and Boards of Directors of CSI
schools may pass a resolution in support of or in opposition to an issue and
distribute the resolution through customary means, other than paid advertising.
To this end, the Animas High School
Board voted unanimously to approve a Resolution of Support of Colorado Amendment
66 at AHS’s recent September Board of Director’s Meeting. In doing so, the AHS
School Board joins local school districts 9-R (Durango), RE-4A (Dolores) and RE-1
(Montezuma-Cortez), Mountain Middle School (our local CSI Charter Middle
School) and a host of current and former state officials and Colorado
organizations in supporting this measure.
For a complete overview of
Colorado Amendment 66 and additional information and resources concerning this important
ballot measure, PLEASE CLICK HERE
All comments, questions and
concerns regarding Animas High School’s position on this initiative should be
directed to AHS’s Executive Director at Michael.Ackerman@animashighschool.com
