Daily Camera
As enrollment declines continue to squeeze the budget, Boulder Valley School District Superintendent Rob Anderson is worried a bill that would overhual the state’s school funding formula will make it even more challenging.
School Funding Formula Legislation
State lawmakers have proposed revamping the school funding formula (HB24-1448).
If passed, this bill would have a significant negative effect on our ongoing budget, which will directly impact our ability to continue to compensate our employees properly and provide needed services for our students and families.
As BVSD’s taxes go up, the overall amount we get from the state is decreasing
In Colorado, school funding is counter-intuitive. Just because property taxes increase locally, that does not mean that funding for schools in BVSD increases at a similar rate. For example, while local property taxes are projected to go up approximately $72M over a three year period, the additional funding we receive is expected to be half of that - $34M. Under this new bill, state dollars would be distributed without the same considerations for high costs of living, meaning BVSD would only receive around $600,000 in new money in the 2025-2026 School Year beyond the current funding formula. To put this in perspective, our overall School Finance Act funding is a little more than $307M.
Proponents of HB24-1448 assert that the new school funding formula will solve the equity and adequacy problems, but ultimately it only perpetuates the issues, especially in BVSD.
Ballot issue threatens ongoing funding
There is also a real threat to our ongoing funding in the state if voters pass Ballot Initiative 50 in November, which would significantly cut property taxes. When combined with HB24-1448, the school funding formula rollout could be paused when additional funding runs out. This could mean the return of a budget stabilization factor in the future. If the funding isn't sustainable it will wreak havoc in school districts across the state.
The time to act is now
The Boulder Valley School District needs your help. Let our state legislators know that you stand with our students
We ask for your help in asking our lawmakers to wait until then to consider changing the public school funding formula. In January of 2025 there will be much clearer information, with the completion of the adequacy studies and the November election behind us.
Please consider sending a note to Speaker McCluskie, the bills sponsors and your state legislators, sharing our shared concerns.
In the News
Colorado Politics
In a March 25 letter to McCluskie, superintendents from some of the state's largest school districts, such as Jeffco and Douglas County, and five in El Paso County, questioned the funding stream for the new formula, raising the specter that it could cause the state to resurrect the budget stabilization factor.
The Colorado Sun
The state’s school funding formula has not changed in 30 years. Lawmakers could make headway in the final weeks of the 2024 session but are grappling with how to find sustainable funding.