WESTMINSTER — The Adams 50 school district is asking voters this year for a tax increase.
The board of education unanimously forwarded a proposed $5.25 million mill-levy override question to the ballot.
The district is seeking an increase of 10 mills, which would cost taxpayers $6.63 per month on a home valued at $100,000, said Adams 50 spokesman Stephen Saunders. That’s a little less than $80 a year, he said.
It marks the first time since 2002 that District 50 has asked voters for a mill-levy override. Officials say it’s needed to make up for significant reduction in funding from the state.
Four years ago, District 50 received about $7,500 per student from the School Finance Act, but that number has dropped to about $6,900 per student, according to the district. Adams 50 has been forced to dip into its one-time cash reserves in recent years to balance the budget.
Bill Christopher, who chairs the district’s fiscal oversight committee, said the mill-levy override would allow Adams 50 to keep pace with its current level of services.
“This would not entail any grandiose new buildings or programs or anything,” Christopher said. “The key word is maintaining. It would allow the district to continue on at a steady level.”
The question will most likely compete with a statewide tax question that also seeks more money for schools. But officials say the mill-levy override is still needed at a local level.
“In the case of District 50, we don’t have the latitude of waiting,” Christopher said. “Even if that were to pass, there’s a two-year lag time before the cash starts flowing from the state to the school districts.”
Adams 50 school board member Larry Valente said the district would likely face budget cuts next year if the measure does not pass.
“We’re not asking for money to build a bank account,” Valente said. “We’ve spent out our reserves. We’re asking because we can’t maintain services at the level they’re at now.”
Joey Kirchmer: 303-954-2650, jkirchmer@denverpost.com
