DENVER—State lawmaker are moving toward requiring that property-rich communities share in a $365 million budget reduction for public schools.
Representatives of the House and Senate backed a compromise proposal on the issue Thursday.
Seven school districts, mostly in resort towns, rely mainly on local property taxes to support their schools. They don’t get enough state funding to share in the 6.4 percent cut other districts face.
The compromise would require them to use a total of $1.9 million in local dollars to replace state funding for other school-related expense, like buses. That money would then be redistributed to districts who need more help paying for transportation.
The compromise must now be approved by both the full House and Senate.
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The school districts are Clear Creek, West Grand, Gunnison, Estes Park, Park, Aspen and Summit.
