June 10, 2012 02:02 AM UTC

Jeffco School Bond and Mill Levy Headed to the Ballot

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• by: Colorado Pols

The Jefferson County Board of Education on Thursday voted to send both a bond measure and a mill levy override to voters on the November ballot.

Jeffco residents last approved similar measures in 2004 and soundly rejected a $350 million bond and mill levy override in 2008.

From 9News:

Jefferson County residents heading to the polls in November will vote on whether or not to approve a property tax increase that the school district says would generate $39 million in revenue for Jeffco schools.

On Thursday, in a 5-to-1 vote, board members approved the measure. The districts says for every $100,000 a Jeffco home is worth, the home owner would be responsible for paying around $1.23 per month. The board says the average resident would pay around $34 extra per year.

The issue sparked a passionate debate from people on both sides of the issue. Many PTA representatives, teachers and parents passionately spoke to the board on the importance of voting to have the tax increase on the November ballot. To supporters of the tax, it was a matter of saving Jeffco schools.

If the tax doesn’t pass, the district says music programs at the elementary level, teacher librarians and other programs would be on the chopping block.

Although prevailing political logic would indicate that this package would go the way of 2008’s 3A and 3B measures — which were narrowly defeated by about 3% each — the fact remains that Jeffco schools need the money to continue providing the same level and quality of education to students. Asking for a property tax increase in the waning years of a recession is certainly politically risky, but the school board simply doesn’t have the luxury to consider political expediency when facing years and years of budget cuts that result in reduced teacher compensation and larger class sizes, among other ill effects.