Despite delays from the U.S. Census Bureau in disseminating the needed precinct population data for states to complete their redistricting processes, the Colorado Legislature cannot alter the process that voters
Hyoung Chang / The Denver Post
Legislators can raise school district property taxes without getting new voter approval, the Colorado Supreme Court ruled Monday.
The decision marks a major victory for supporters of school finance reform who have watched Colorado struggle to fund its schools, even as K-12 education takes up a growing share of the state budget.
With news of the Supreme Court’s blessing, state senators Monday approved a bill that would gradually increase local taxes in many school districts, generating more than $91 million for schools next year and more than $288 million a year when fully implemented.
The extra money will come from local taxpayers, not state coffers. Republicans Sens. Kevin Priola of Brighton, Bob Rankin of Carbondale, and Don Coram of Montrose joined Democrats in what was otherwise a party-line vote.
by Robert Davis, The Center Square contributor | May 25, 2021 11:00 AM Print this article
Colorado’s Supreme Court ruled on Monday that local school districts may recover the millions of dollars in lost revenue they suffered because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The ruling is a direct response to House Bill 21-1164, which would correct guidance from the state education department to reduce property tax mill levies that support public schools. It also corrects this guidance to restore the levies to their voter-approved levels.
HB21-1162 is sponsored by Sens. Rachel Zenzinger, D-Arvada, and Stephen Fenberg, D-Boulder, and Reps. Daneya Esgar, D-Pueblo, and Alec Garnett, D-Denver.
Legislators can raise school district property taxes without getting new voter approval, the Colorado Supreme Court ruled Monday.
The decision marks a major victory for supporters of school finance reform who have watched Colorado struggle to fund its schools, even as K-12 education takes up a growing share of the state budget.
With news of the Supreme Court’s blessing, state senators Monday approved a bill that would gradually increase local taxes in many school districts, generating more than $91 million for schools next year and more than $288 million a year when fully implemented.
The extra money will come from local taxpayers, not state coffers. Republicans Sens. Kevin Priola of Brighton, Bob Rankin of Carbondale, and Don Coram of Montrose joined Democrats in what was otherwise a party-line vote.