1. Budget cuts have negatively affected Aurora Public Schools.

2. Problem  APS has had a $70 million cut in its budget since 2010.  In 2011, APS lost $512 per student.  Gym classes, language classes, and music classes have been cut.  Colorado is ranked 40 th out of 50 in various state funding statistics (Senator Heath).  K-12 funding is about $1 billion below what Amendment 23 calls for (calls for a 1% increase in education funding by 2011) (Senator Heath).

3. Problem Continued…  Aurora Public Schools per pupil funding, as allocated by the state for 2012-13 is $600 below the 2009-10 school year. They have been forced to cut the district’s budget by $75 million http://aurorak12.org/category/budget/ Budget Cuts in APS Schools Funding in dollars

4. Alternative Policies  Educational Vouchers  Mill Levies  Senate Bill 213

5. Educational Vouchers  Educational vouchers are money that comes from state taxes and given to an alternative school of the student’s choice who hope to receive a quality education.  Vouchers are used to receive a better education.

6. Advantage of Educational Vouchers  Providing private school access to everyone will increase diversity.  Since parents can choose religious or non-religious schools, the government is not imposing religion on anyone.

7. Disadvantages of Educational Vouchers  Vouchers take funding away from public schools which are already severely underfunded.  Is it constitutional to give tax dollars to private religious schools?

8. Mill Levies  A mill levy is a property tax that the owner is required to pay. Mill levy changes are approved by voters.

9. Advantages to Mill Levies  There will be fewer classes and sports programs cut.  More teachers will be able to keep their jobs.

10. Disadvantages of Mill Levies  When property values of homes go up, so will the tax revenue generated.  Business owners would pay a higher property tax rate of about four times the normal owner.  A high increase would not be favorable in the eyes of taxpayers, therefore they would be dissuaded from voting pro.

11. Senate Bill 213  SB 213 proposes a $1 billion dollar tax increase that would increase school funding in Colorado.  SB 213 will divvy out the money by calculating the percentage of mill levies in each district, according to the number of students and the number of “at-risk” students (“at-risk” = reduced/free lunch or non- English speaking designation).  SB 213 helps the ASCENT educational opportunity program and gives equal funding to the base spending for each pupil statewide.

12. Advantages to Senate Bill 213  The bill would divvy out the money by the number of students who attend school daily. For example, if a student were to attend school for the first quarter then transfer to a different school, that money would be transferred to the new school.  The bill also gives more money for students if they have multiple designations. For example, an English Language Learner who is also a Free Lunch participant would have funding designated for both that goes to the school.

13. Disadvantage of Senate Bill 213  The money would come out of the taxpayers’ pockets, making it less appealing to voters.

14. Class Policies  We would like the proposed annual $40 million for school construction to be appropriated from Amendment 64 funds.  Possibility of collecting 15% excise tax and 10% special sales tax allows extra funds to be collected for this purpose. ( House Bill 13-1318 Recreational Marijuana Taxes for November’s ballot)  We would also like part of the 130 million from marijuana tax monies to be directed towards public schools from Amendment 64 funds (9 News).

15. Advantages of Amendment 64 taxes Schools would receive more money, so there would be fewer and smaller budget cuts. More school activities could be offered due to more money going to schools. Fewer teachers losing their jobs. Possibility of collecting 15% wholesale tax and 10% special sales tax.

16. Advantages of Amendment 64 Taxes Coloradoeducation.bug 2013

17. Disadvantages of Amendment 64 taxes  This is long-term, not a short-term fix.  Other entities may want the tax money.

18. Disadvantages of Amendment 64 taxes Source: Colorado Center on Law & Policy 2013

19. Constitutionality  Our policy is constitutional because we request that tax dollars be implemented towards schools.  This policy would utilize the Taxpayer Bill of Rights (TABOR) laws in order to be implemented.

20. Action Plan  Government Persons Contacted Regarding Amendment 64 Taxes  Non-Government Persons Contacted Regarding Amendment 64 Taxes

21. Government Persons Contacted Regarding Amendment 64 Taxes  Contacted Governor Hickenlooper asking for his opinion on Amendment 64 taxes going to schools.  Letter supporting funds with information

22. Government Persons Contacted Regarding Amendment 64 Taxes  Contacted all Senators asking for opinions on Amendment 64 taxes going to schools  Senator Heath-Letter supporting with information  Senator Cadman-No response  Senator Morse-No response  Senator Renfroe-No response  Senator Nicholson-No response  Senator King-No response  Senator Bacon-No response  Senator Ulibarri-No response  Senator Marble-No response  Senator Baumgardner-No response

23. Government Persons Contacted Regarding Amendment 64 Taxes  Contacted all Representatives asking for opinions on Amendment 64 taxes going to schools  Representative Johnston-Gave information  Representative Holbert-Letter informing us to contact our own districts representative(s)  Representative Singer-Letter supporting funds.  Representative Ferrandino-No response  Representative Waller-No response  Representative Summers-No response  Representative Fields-No response  Representative Melton-No response  Representative May-No response  Representative Todd-No response

24. Government Persons Contacted Regarding Amendment 64 Taxes Contacted all Representatives asking for opinions on Amendment 64 taxes going to schools cont.’ Representative Solano-No response Representative Schafer-No response Representative Ramirez-No response Representative Peniston-No response Representative Joshi-No response Representative Murray-No response Representative Beesley-No response

25. Government Persons Contacted Regarding Amendment 64 Taxes Legislative Council of Colorado General Assembly  Letter with information. Attorney General John W. Suthers-Letter of support with information Aurora Public School District  Superintendent John Berry-No response  Ms. Temple (Finance Board of Aurora Public Schools)- Did not wish to respond

26. Non-Government Persons Contacted Doug Wilson (Colorado State Public Defender)-Letter with suggestions Mason Tvert (Co-Director of the campaign to regulate marijuana)-Letter supporting $40 million Barbara Miller (Executive Director Center for Education in Law and Democracy)-Letter with information Brian Conners (Public Defender)-Letter with information Andrew Romanoff (International Development Enterprises)-No response to letters or tweets

27. Non-Government Persons Contacted National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP)-No response National Latino Officers Association-No response Blacks in Law Enforcement of America-No response