Fair and Balanced Summary
Academy District 20 will have an MLO on the November 7th ballot. We are requesting funding for:
Increasing compensation to attract and retain high quality teachers and support staff (all staff, except administrators)
Expanding armed security officers to each elementary school
Funding the upkeep of District schools and facilities
Increased funding for D20 Charter Schools
Please remember, if MLO passes, homeowner impact is an additional $2.28 per month per $100,000 of home value.
Pros
MLO is a fixed amount of $35 million, which will not increase as assessed valuation increases.
MLO proceeds are locally controlled.
All D20 students, including charters, benefit and funding goes to teacher and support staff salaries, facilities and security.
Cons
Colorado is required to increase base school funding by at least the rate of inflation.
MLO amount of $35 million will not sunset.
During the first collection year of 2024, MLO will increase residential property taxes by $2.28 per month, per $100,000 of actual home value.
Ballot Language
SHALL EL PASO COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 20 (ACADEMY DISTRICT 20) TAXES BE INCREASED UP TO $35 MILLION ANNUALLY COMMENCING IN COLLECTION YEAR 2024, WITHOUT EXCEEDING THE CURRENT LEVY OF 53.030 MILLS IN 2024 THROUGH 2026, AND WITHOUT EXCEEDING THE VOTER APPROVED MILL LEVY CAP OF 60.216 BEGINNING IN 2027 FOR ALL PURPOSES UNLESS OTHERWISE AUTHORIZED BY LAW; FOR GENERAL FUND PURPOSES INCLUDING:
INCREASING COMPENSATION TO ATTRACT AND RETAIN HIGH QUALITY TEACHERS AND SUPPORT STAFF;
EXPANDING ARMED SECURITY OFFICERS TO EACH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL;
FUNDING THE UPKEEP OF DISTRICT SCHOOLS AND FACILITIES;
PROVIDING FUNDING FOR CHARTER SCHOOLS FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES;
WITH SUCH EXPENDITURES TO BE MONITORED BY A CITIZENS’ ACCOUNTABILITY COMMITTEE WHO REPORT DIRECTLY TO THE BOARD OF EDUCATION;
AND SHALL SUCH TAX INCREASE BE AN ADDITIONAL PROPERTY TAX MILL LEVY IN EXCESS OF THE LEVY AUTHORIZED FOR THE DISTRICT’S GENERAL FUND, PURSUANT TO AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 22-54-108, C.R.S.?