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Comment in question
“No one likes to talk about raising taxes, but public education in Colorado is in trouble and Proposition 103 offers a temporary solution,” said Jerry Nickell, superintendent of Las Animas School District concerning Proposition 103, which will be on the November ballot.
Just the facts
The state of Colorado, to meet a balanced budget, has cut public education funds for three consecutive years. As a result of these cuts, the Las Animas school revenue has been reduced by nearly 40 percent. Between federal and state cuts, the Las Animas school district has lost more than a million dollars in total budget cuts. If Proposition 103 passes, according to Rollie Heath, bill sponsor, this would generate $600,000,000 per year. By passing 103, the income tax raise would be from 4.63 to 5 percent and sales tax would rise from 2.9 to 3.0. This would mean three billion dollars over a five-year period ear-marked for pre-K through higher education. This would alleviate the 2011-2012 deficits and would eliminate the shortfall. The total raised would be approximately $500 million each year with $200 million going to education for the next three consecutive years. Proposition 103 would only be for five years.
Response
This is a temporary fix but would give Colorado elected officials some time to work on our current budget deficit. This would give the legislature time to restructure the tax system in Colorado and to provide funds to adequately fund public education. Colorado, at the present time, ranks last in the nation in per pupil funding. Las Animas has cut staff to “bare bones” according to Nickell. Any further cuts will require the district to go into the reserve funds. Programs have already been cut; music and wood shop are already gone. The only humanities course left is art at the upper grades. Programs such as vocational agriculture and auto mechanics would have to be looked at, according to Nickell. Sports could also be in jeopardy. For the student not going to college, voc ag and auto mechanics are vital.
For students in rural schools, courses like voc ag and auto mechanics give them a chance to learn practical hands-on education, they can use every day in their lives if they choose to stay on the ranch. For a family earning $55,700 per year, Proposition 103 would mean paying $132 per year. Our kids are worth this. Right now, Colorado is spending $1,871 less per student than the national norm. Colorado voters need to invest in the future of Colorado and this means investing in education at all levels.
Comment in question
“No one likes to talk about raising taxes, but public education in Colorado is in trouble and Proposition 103 offers a temporary solution,” said Jerry Nickell, superintendent of Las Animas School District concerning Proposition 103, which will be on the November ballot.
Just the facts
The state of Colorado, to meet a balanced budget, has cut public education funds for three consecutive years. As a result of these cuts, the Las Animas school revenue has been reduced by nearly 40 percent. Between federal and state cuts, the Las Animas school district has lost more than a million dollars in total budget cuts. If Proposition 103 passes, according to Rollie Heath, bill sponsor, this would generate $600,000,000 per year. By passing 103, the income tax raise would be from 4.63 to 5 percent and sales tax would rise from 2.9 to 3.0. This would mean three billion dollars over a five-year period ear-marked for pre-K through higher education. This would alleviate the 2011-2012 deficits and would eliminate the shortfall. The total raised would be approximately $500 million each year with $200 million going to education for the next three consecutive years. Proposition 103 would only be for five years.
Response
This is a temporary fix but would give Colorado elected officials some time to work on our current budget deficit. This would give the legislature time to restructure the tax system in Colorado and to provide funds to adequately fund public education. Colorado, at the present time, ranks last in the nation in per pupil funding. Las Animas has cut staff to “bare bones” according to Nickell. Any further cuts will require the district to go into the reserve funds. Programs have already been cut; music and wood shop are already gone. The only humanities course left is art at the upper grades. Programs such as vocational agriculture and auto mechanics would have to be looked at, according to Nickell. Sports could also be in jeopardy. For the student not going to college, voc ag and auto mechanics are vital.
For students in rural schools, courses like voc ag and auto mechanics give them a chance to learn practical hands-on education, they can use every day in their lives if they choose to stay on the ranch. For a family earning $55,700 per year, Proposition 103 would mean paying $132 per year. Our kids are worth this. Right now, Colorado is spending $1,871 less per student than the national norm. Colorado voters need to invest in the future of Colorado and this means investing in education at all levels.
