Herald HRH 9-12-2013
Highlands Ranch
Douglas County, Colorado • Volume 26, Issue 43
September 12, 2013
A Colorado Community Media Publication
ourhighlandsranchnews.com
Metro District prepares for 2014 Priorities outlined as staff, directors get ready for budgeting By Ryan Boldrey
rboldrey@ourcoloradonews.com
This dog was among many who took to the water at Highlands Ranch’s Westridge Recreation Center pool on Sept. 8. The 91-degree day was the last day the outdoor pool was open for 2013, and dogs joyously took the opportunity to romp and cool off.
Every
Dog has its Day More than 200 dogs made their way to the outdoor pool at Westridge Recreation Center Sept. 8 to celebrate the end of summer with a day all their own. With temperatures reaching 91 degrees, man’s best friend couldn’t have asked for a better day for a dip. There was frolicking, ball chasing, and lots of shake showers for their humans and other innocent bystanders at the water’s edge. The only rule was, “No humans in the pool!”
photos by ryan bolDrey
Man’s best friend had plenty of opportunities to find friends of its own kind Sept. 8, as hundreds of dogs flocked to the water over the course of the day.
staff, schools to get more money Douglas board cites healthier economy By Jane Reuter
jreuter@ourcoloradonews.com Citing an influx of property tax revenue, the Douglas County School Board is giving more money to its schools and staff. The board passed a resolution Sept. 3 that makes an additional $3 million available for staff salary increases and $1.5 million for students’ education. The raises will average 1 percent, and are “differentiated for performance,” which means amounts will vary based on a teacher’s evaluation rating and the market-based pay scale. The money is on top of an average 2 percent teacher raise and an additional 2 percent in one-time bonuses already announced by the district in May. At that
time, DCSD also committed to additional funding of $200 per student. The newly approved monies will add another $20 to $25 per student to that amount. The added compensation means the most highly rated teachers may get a pay bump of as much as 9.5 percent, with all but 1 percent of that money a permanent salary increase. DCSD also plans to boost pay for teachers whose salaries are below the marketbased pay scale. The decision to allocate additional funds is tied to an effort to make up for several years of salary freezes for teachers, and cuts to school budgets. “The good news is because of several factors,” DCSD board vice president Kevin Larsen said. “One is, the county’s growing again. Property values are slightly up. Delinquencies are down. Receipts are up, and up in a sustainable way.” While the district hails the additional money as good news, some call it bad bud-
geting. “I do think the timing of this board announcement was unfortunate,” said Julie Keim, a school board candidate and certified professional accountant who has studied DCSD’s budget. “Schools need to know their budgets before the beginning of the year to truly maximize opportunities for students. “Also, it is interesting that the candidates for the school board election were just finalized the day that this was announced.” Four seats on the seven-member board are up for grabs in November. Judi Reynolds, Keim’s opponent, said the release of additional funds indicates a prudent approach to fiscal management. “I think the way the board and district have chosen to do things over the last few years is they do not want to commit money they do not know Money continues on Page 11
As the Highlands Ranch Metro District gears up for 2014 and budget talks loom, staff and directors have been busy outlining goals and priorities for the coming year. With a projected revenue increase of 4.04 percent, based on a rise in property values, Metro District General Manager Terry Nolan said he hopes to add back some of the positions and services that were eliminated when things plummeted a few years back. “I am pleased that the revenues have turned the corner and are going to get back up to almost where they were before the economic downturn,” he said. “That should allow us to continue to provide the services that we are used to Nolan being able to provide.” At the top of the priority list for 2014, he said, is the continued evaluation of fire and emergency services contracted with the HRMD, followed by beautification projects for medians of all major roadways in Highlands Ranch in need of attention. The Metro District Metro District is also participat2014 priorities ing in a community branding effort with 1. Fire and emerthe Highlands Ranch gency services Community Associa2. Community tion and Highlands improvements Ranch Chamber of 3. Community Commerce, and Nobranding lan anticipates Shea Homes will be added 4. Wildcat to those discussions. Regional Park Next on the list, planning the district antici5. Historic Park pates being active and Mansion in planning discussions surrounding 6. Transportation the long-anticipated development Wildcat Regional 7. Fly’n B House Park. Partners in improvements these discussions will include Douglas County, the HRCA and Castle Pines. “We are anxious to see where those discussions go,” Nolan said, adding that the district will be evaluating reserve funds set aside for the park and that the county will be leading all discussions on the matter. Other conversations with the county in 2014 that will be continued include Goals continues on Page 11
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