GOP blasts tax freeze
Forty Republican senators and representatives released a letter Monday opposing Democratic Gov. Bill Ritter’s proposal to freeze property tax rates to raise more money for public schools.
“The proposal is unfair to our taxpayers as well as to our schools and to Colorado’s children,” they wrote. The Republicans said they agreed that “the way we finance public education doesn’t work.”
They offered no alternative plan to counter the governor’s proposal in the letter, but House Minority Leader Mike May, R-Parker, said Republicans will be offering an “idea a day” this week to counter Ritter’s plan.
“The governor has been willing to study everything else in the world,” May said. “Let’s talk about this.”
Evan Dreyer, spokesman for Ritter, said: “We are glad that they are finally engaged in one of the biggest problems facing Colorado’s budget. Welcome to the table.”
Last month, Ritter proposed freezing property tax rates for the 178 school districts across the state, keeping tax rates from falling in most districts and allowing public schools to keep at least $64 million extra per year.
At the same time, Ritter and other backers said the plan would relieve pressure on the State Education Fund – a primary source of state funding for schools.
But the details of the proposal called for spending more money from that fund than would be saved – at least in the first three years.
Ritter offered a retooled version of the proposal last week that called for lowering property tax rates in 33 districts – most of them rural – that have the highest rates.
E-mails fuel charter clash
Charter and online school supporters are seizing on a recent e-mail exchange between Sen. Sue Windels, chair of the Senate Education Committee, and the director of a Hope Online Learning Academy center.
Windels, D-Arvada, wrote that one reason enrollment at Hope has exploded in the last year is that “kids who are struggling or lazy see online as a ‘quick, easy’ way to get a diploma.”
Mark Lopez, director of Westside Learning Center, fired back: “I am sorry you see our kids as lazy and trendy.”
Windels also said the Hope model, which includes about 80 online learning centers across the state, could be a “valuable opportunity for at-risk students who might otherwise drop out of school.”
She called the e-mail’s release, followed with calls for her resignation, a “manufactured political scandal.”
Sen. Mike Kopp, R-Littleton, said he did not think Windels should resign, but announce that she does not intend to harm charter or online schools.
