Budget Matter$
LPS asks taxpayers for a mill levy increase;
Question to be on November 2, 2010 ballot
On July 29, 2010, the Littleton Public Schools Board of Education approved language for the item on the November 2, 2010 ballot that asks voters to approve a mill levy increase. The increase would generate $12 million annually for LPS and would help future education cuts from the state from being as detrimental, beginning in school year 2011-2012.
Since 2008, the nation’s economy has suffered and Colorado has been affected, as well. As a result of state funding cuts to K-12 public education (LPS receives about 60 percent of its funding from the state), LPS had to reduce its budget by about 10 percent, or $14 million, in three years. Class sizes went up, fees increased, two schools were closed, programs were cut, about 200 jobs were cut, and school supply budgets rolled back to the level they were 20 years ago. The school year was shortened by two days to accommodate two furlough days for all employees. All students have been affected by these cuts.
It is projected that the state will require similar cuts again from K-12 education in 2011-2012 and beyond. The Board of Education struggled with the idea of an election, but ultimately felt that it was necessary to move forward and let the community decide.
The mill levy increase would cost homeowners about six dollars per month for every $100,000 of actual home value.
The mill levy increase would allow LPS to:
- Continue to provide academic excellence and an educational program of the highest quality and standards;
- Maintain class size;
- Provide a comprehensive education, including art, music, and P.E.;
- Provide curriculum and instruction necessary for success in college, post-secondary education, and the workforce;
- Maintain adequate numbers of well-qualified teachers;
- Continue to provide students with a safe learning environment.
Ballot Language for November 2, 2010 election
Ballot item 3A will read as follows:
SHALL LITTLETON PUBLIC SCHOOLS’ (ARAPAHOE COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT NUMBER 6) TAXES BE INCREASED $12,000,000 ANNUALLY BEGINNING IN TAX COLLECTION YEAR 2011, AND FOR EACH FISCAL YEAR THEREAFTER BY AN ADDITIONAL PROPERTY TAX MILL LEVY SUFFICIENT TO OBTAIN SUCH INCREASE AND IN EXCESS OF THE LEVY AUTHORIZED FOR THE DISTRICT’S GENERAL FUND, PURSUANT TO AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 22-54-108, C.R.S., SUCH ADDITIONAL TAXES TO BE DEPOSITED IN THE GENERAL FUND AND USED FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO:
· CONTINUE THE DISTRICT’S COMMITMENT TO ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE AND ACCOUNTABILITY AND
TO PROVIDE AN EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM OF THE HIGHEST QUALITY AND STANDARDS;
· MAINTAIN CLASS-SIZE IN THE KINDERGARTEN THROUGH TWELFTH GRADES;
· PROVIDE EACH CHILD ACCESS TO A COMPREHENSIVE EDUCATION WITH PROGRAMS SUCH AS ART,
MUSIC, AND PHYSICAL EDUCATION;
· PROVIDE STUDENTS WITH THE CURRICULUM AND INSTRUCTION NECESSARY FOR SUCCESS IN
COLLEGE, POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION AND THE WORKPLACE;
· MAINTAIN ADEQUATE NUMBERS OF WELL-QUALIFIED TEACHERS;
· CONTINUE TO PROVIDE STUDENTS WITH A SAFE ENVIRONMENT FOR SUCCESSFUL ACHIEVEMENT.
AND SHALL THE DISTRICT BE AUTHORIZED TO COLLECT, RETAIN AND SPEND ALL REVENUES FROM SUCH TAXES AND THE EARNINGS FROM THE INVESTMENT OF SUCH REVENUES 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?
YES
NO
How much would a $12 million mill levy override cost taxpayers?
In summary, a $12 million mill levy override would cost homeowners about six dollars per month for every $100,000 of actual home value.
Override Amount = $12 million
Home Value = $100,000
Assessment Ratio = 7.96%
Assessed Value = $7,960
Mill Levy = 9.147
Annual Taxpayer Cost = $72.81
Monthly Taxpayer Cost = $6.07
Why does Littleton Public Schools have to continue to cut millions from its budget?
Like many other districts in Colorado, LPS has had to reduce its budget every year for a number of years due to a smaller student population and increasing costs. Since 2008, the nation’s economy has suffered and Colorado has been affected, as well. As a result of state funding cuts to K-12 public education, LPS had to reduce its budget by about 10 percent, or $14 million, in three years.
What has the district done so far to tighten its belt?
- Closed two of 24 schools in the district (represents an eight percent reduction of school buildings);
- Cut about 200 jobs in three years, including central office administrators and teachers;
- Froze salaries;
- Increased fees;
- Increased class size, by as much as 50 percent in some areas;
- Reduced programs (gifted/talented, fine arts, PE, and literacy);
- Cut programs that provide additional help to students (AVID at the middle and high schools);
- Cut the International Baccalaureate Program at the elementary and middle levels;
- Furloughed all employees for two days (the only district in the metro area to furlough employees);
- Reconfigured transportation routes for maximum efficiency;
- Rolled back school supply budgets to the level they were 20 years ago;
- Used reserves to the extent possible ($3 million left would cover about one week of expenses)
Why are teachers and other school employee positions being cut versus cutting elsewhere?
In the past 15 years, LPS has been able to largely keep cuts away from the classroom by cutting administrative and operational costs. In fact, LPS spends less on central administration than most districts in the metro area. Budget reductions necessary for 2010-2011 due to the state’s drastic cuts to schools are simply too deep; all schools and all families will feel these cuts.
How has the district tried to increase its revenue?
LPS has been successful in marketing to out-of-district families. Nearly 18 percent of LPS students are enrolled from outside the school district boundaries and clearly see LPS as the preferred choice. This is the highest percentage of any school district along the Front Range of similar size or larger. Out-of-district students bring the same amount of state funding to the district as do in-district students. LPS has also made creative changes to programming when financially possible, and competitive bids for employee benefits and other purchasing, energy conservation, and partnerships with local businesses have saved the district millions over the years. Individual school parent-teacher organizations help fund programs that can no longer be fully supported by the district. LPS continues to do all it can to influence decisions at the state level that impact school funding for all of Colorado’s school districts.
Does the state have a plan to address these funding concerns?
No. The national economic downturn has caused the state’s resources to drop to historically low levels. And, because LPS receives about 60 percent of its funding from the state, the level to which LPS has been affected is unprecedented.
Will there be more budget cuts for school year 2011-2012?
Yes. The tradition of academic excellence in LPS is in jeopardy. The state continues to indicate that its cuts to public schools for 2011-2012 will be deep again. The values that the LPS community has around quality and excellence are being compromised by these continued drastic funding cuts.
Board of Education discusses the possibility of placing a mill levy increase on the November 2010 ballot
(5.28.10) At its May 27, 2010 meeting, the LPS Board of Education heard an update of budget forecasts for school years 2010-2014. The Board also heard a summary of community input and feedback regarding budget reductions for school years 2010-2011 and beyond.
Over the past three years, the Board of Education has discussed and made crucial decisions for budgetary balancing strategies totaling $14 million. The approved $7.5 million cut for 2010–2011 was largely caused by the state’s 6.33 percent reduction of statewide K–12 School Finance Act program revenues. As discussed in previous Board meetings, the “Funding Cliff” (when the additional 1% above cost of living adjustment in Amendment 23 and Referendum C expire, and when federal stimulus monies for education are no longer available) could cause further state reductions to education funding. In addition, costs continue to increase while funding decreases. Among the alternatives to be considered are a mill levy election in November 2010, and/or formation of a budget committee to study budget reduction strategies for the FY 2011–2012 and beyond.
Administration provided an overview of the impact of a successful mill levy override election and the cost to taxpayers. Board comments and guidance were sought to ensure that the district is able to balance financial resources with the need to provide an excellent educational outcome.
View the presentation.
View the summaries of input/feedback for the following:
27 community budget conversations in September – October, 2009
Community Survey conducted by Public Opinion Strategies in February, 2010
Community Budget Forum, May 10, 2010
Budget Matters community survey, online results, April-May 2010
Budget Matters community survey, mail-in results, April-May 2010
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View the presentation from the April 22, 2010 Board of Education meeting regarding the impacts of Amendments 60, 61, and Proposition 101.
View charts regarding general fund, five-year budget projections (August 2009)
View chart regarding LPS funding from Colorado for 2009-2010
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