Westsider Westsider 8-23-2013
North Jeffco
POSTAL PATRON
August 23,2013
A Colorado Community Media Publication
ourwestminsternews.com
North Jefferson County, Colorado • Volume 12, Issue 33
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Resolution approved for mill levy override Duffy: No guarantee finance reform efforts will be successful By Ashley Reimers
areimers@ourcoloradonews.com
Jefferson County Schools Superintendent Cindy Stevenson speaks in support of a school finance act tax hike during an Aug. 15 rally at Lakewood’s Green Mountain High School. Photo by Vic Vela
Governor touts reform tax hike Rally brings out supporters, detractors of possible ballot measure By Vic Vela
vvela@ourcoloradonews.com Gov. John Hickenlooper gave a fullthroated endorsement of a school-finance reform tax hike at a Lakewood rally on Aug. 15, marking the beginning of a campaign behind what’s expected to be the most significant ballot question voters will decide this fall. Hickenlooper was joined by other education-reform advocates at a Green Mountain High School rally that drew more than 100 supporters of an initiative that will create $950 million in new taxes that will fund an overhaul of the Colorado school-finance system. “I refer to this all the time as the single most comprehensive education-reform initiative in the history of the United States,” Hickenlooper said. “With this initiative, we’re building a public-education system that’s going to serve as a model for the rest of the United States.” By passing Initiative 22 this fall, taxpayers would fund full-day kindergarten for all Colorado children and would provide more support for at-risk students and English learners. The initiative also aims to reduce class sizes and provide greater funding
A supporter of an income tax hike that will fund a new school finance formula uses a sports analogy to drive his point home. Photo by Vic Vela equality for school districts across the state. Hickenlooper was joined at the rally by other supporters of the Colorado Commits to Kids campaign. They included Jefferson County Schools Superintendent Cindy Stevenson, who
said that “an additional 3,000 5-year-olds will have free full-day kindergarten” in the county, and that at least 1,000 at-risk Jeffco Governor continues on Page 17
Ridgeway park close to completion Community banding together for new playground By Ashley Reimers
areimers@ourcoloradonews.com As the one-year anniversary of Jessica Ridgeway’s death draws near, the residents of Westminster continue to band together to support one another in the community’s loss. The most recent effort was a volunteer day at Jessica Ridgeway Memorial Park, where 140 volunteers worked to complete some finishing touches. For months work has been done on the park, which was formerly known as Chelsea Park, at 10765 Moore St., and soon it will be complete and open to the public. On Aug. 17, volunteers worked in two-hour shifts, spreading safety-surface mulch through-
About 140 volunteers came together to install mulch at the Jessica Ridgeway Memorial Park on Saturday during a volunteer day with the city of Westminster. Photo by Ashley Reimers
Park continues on Page 17
Voters in the Adams County School District 50 will have a decision on their hands come this November: whether or not to approve a mill-levy override. On Aug. 13, the school board unanimously approved a resolution placing a $5.25 million mill-levy override question on the Nov. 5 ballot. The increase of 10 mills would cost taxpayers $7.96 per month on a home valued at $100,000, for a total of less than $96 per year. In July the board signaled to voters its intent to move forward with the override. “While Colorado is strategically moving ahead in finance reform, there is no guarantee that those efforts will be successful,” said District Administrator James Duffy. “If our current school-finance situation remains unchanged, the district will have to continue to have to pay back any short fallings from the state by using operating expenses or reserves, which are one-time funds and once spent are depleted.” Steve Saunders, communications director for the district, said this is the first mill-levy override put before the voters since 2002, and if approved, will make up for a dramatic reduction in state funding. The district currently receives about $6,900 from the state per student, which dropped from $7,500 four years ago, he said. “To make up the difference and maintain educational programming over the past several years, the Board of Education dipped into its fund balance,” Saunders said. Discussions about a mill-levy override began last year during a study session in December when the Adams County School District 50 fiscal oversight committee suggested the school board consider an override question for next November’s election. At that time, committee member Bill Christopher said after the board had to reach into the reserve fund and pull out $4.4 million to balance the 2012-13 budget, the mill-levy-override option is something the board needed to consider. “We have done bond refinancing, which helps, but we have to think about the future,” Christopher said at the time “The mill-levy increase is an important step that needs to be done in the next couple of years. And it’s something the school board has to decide whether they want to embrace it.” The ballot language focuses on four key objectives: providing students with instruction and basic skills for success in college and the work place, keeping highly qualified teachers and staff in the classroom, providing each child access to comprehensive education, and providing funds to implement necessary improvements that are conducive to the health and well-being of students. District 50 voters will already be headed to the polls in November when two seats on the board open up — those of board president Marilyn Flachman, who is term limited, and Sharon Whitehair, who is not running for re-election.
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