Budget & finance

Colorado Gov. Jared Polis wants to make changes that would affect school budgets. Here’s why Denver Metro-area school leaders say that’s a concern.

The district hadn’t passed a tax measure since 2006.

Many of the measures that were successful did not require a tax increase, according to unofficial election results.

Polis has proposed changing how the state calculates enrollment for budget purposes and slowing the phase-in of a new funding formula.

Budget cuts are likely as the district expects to run out of reserves as soon as 2026.

The last time the district asked voters for a bond or mill levy override was 10 years ago, and the measures failed then.

School districts must allocate the last round of federal pandemic relief by Sept. 30 and spend it by January, though Colorado schools may get an extension for the spending deadline.

With some reluctance, Colorado lawmakers reached a deal to cut revenue in order to stave off two ballot measures that could drastically cut K-12 aid.

Colorado education groups will watch whether lawmakers structure property tax cuts to avoid impacts on K-12 and higher education.

Among metro area districts, the gap has grown 52% in the last 10 years.

Leaders of both special district efforts hope to ask for voter approval in 2025.

Los distritos escolares de Colorado inscribieron a mas de 8 mil nuevos estudiantes inmigrantes entre octubre y el 29 de febrero.

Districts enrolled a total of 8,085 newcomer students after the October count and through Feb. 29.

Changing how Colorado funds schools has bedeviled legislators for years, but they hope the new proposal will represent a breakthrough.

Lawmakers unveiled the proposal on Tuesday after a week when budget committee members had to make big cuts.

Colorado’s budget committee has been hashing out legislation that would provide $24 million for schools enrolling new arrival students. On Friday, they approved the proposal for consideration.

This year, the meals cost $56.1 million more than budgeted.

The district pilot is being considered to start at Thornton Elementary School and Thornton Middle School next fall.

More migrant students are enrolling midyear. Because they don’t qualify for a 1966 program that helps agricultural migrant students, schools need other funding to support them.