By Amy Bounds
Camera Staff Writer

Boulder Valley School District voters could decide as early as November if they want to pay more taxes to support literacy teachers and other school programs.

In addition, voters might be asked — either in November or in the next few years — to pay for technology upgrades and school renovations through a bond issue.

At a retreat Thursday, school board members considered asking voters to approve the tax increase and the separate bond issue. Driving the need for increases are budget projections showing that the district is likely to continue to have financial shortfalls.

"We have to start asking voters what kind of education system they want before we start cutting programs," said school board member Julie Phillips.

If the district asked for a $15.9 million increase in property taxes — the maximum amount allowed under state law — the typical homeowner's tax bill could go up an estimated $117. It would require a voter-approved mill levy override.

Along with a mill levy override, possibilities the board is considering include a three-year building and technology bond issue. The district could raise the mill levy by up to 10 mills for three years for a total of $120 million to pay off the bonds. The typical homeowner's tax increase for the bond issue could be up to an estimated $294.

A typical home assessment in 2001-02 in the school district was $321,040, according to the district.

Phillips said she wants to see both a mill levy override and a bond issue on the November ballot, although district officials said it would be tough to put a bond issue proposal together that quickly.

District officials recommended waiting until at least the 2003 election to ask for a bond issue because an evaluation of school facility needs isn't expected to be completed until December. The goal of the evaluation is to find inequities between buildings, along with major repairs or replacements that are needed.

School board President Bill de la Cruz said that before making a decision about a mill levy override, he wants to figure out what the district would cut if the funding situation doesn't improve.

"What are we risking by not having this?" he said.

Next year, the district is cutting about $3.5 million from the budget. Part of the reason for the shortfall is a 4.6 percent raise for teachers and staff. Another reason is a decline in non-charter school enrollment.

If enrollment in non-charter schools continues to decline and the district gives the same 4.6 percent raise in 2003-04, the district will need to cut up to $4.3 million.

"We simply are not adequately funded," said Pam Rifkin, Boulder Valley budget director.

Money to continue the literacy efforts, provided by a 1998 voter-approved referendum, is expected to run out in 2003-04. The referendum pays mainly for literacy teachers in elementary schools to reduce class sizes during literacy instruction.

Without more money from voters, the district might need to lay off some of the teachers.

School board member Janusz Okolowicz said that given the slow economy and the district's lack of enrollment growth, he doesn't support asking voters for a mill levy override. He called overrides "a cannibal eating our budget."

Okolowicz said he also wants to postpone any bond issue until the board decides how to address the large number of small schools in the district, which cost more to run than larger schools. A community committee looking at the issue is planning to make recommendations to the board in November.

To put an issue on the November ballot, the school board needs to make a decision by September.

Contact Amy Bounds at boundsa@thedailycamera.com or (303) 473-1341.

May 31, 2002

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