By Nicholas Garcia, Chalkbeat Colorado
Colorado senators gave initial support to a bill that would require the state’s school districts to equally share voter-approved tax increases with their charter schools, but not before making substantial changes that would ease in the new mandate.
The bipartisan approval came after two days of intense debate that rehashed longstanding arguments over the role of charter schools.
The local tax increases, known as mill levy overrides, have become a popular way to supplement school districts’ budgets as the state has not made headway in closing a $830 million school funding shortfall.
Under current law, school boards must consider the needs of their charter schools, but are not required to share any of the new revenue. Charter schools receive state tax dollars but are run independently, outside of the traditional school district system.
The bill is retroactive and would require school districts to send a combined $33 million to their charter schools to make up current inequities, according to a legislative estimate.
But districts wouldn’t need to share all that money at once. An amendment to the bill would allow districts to phase in the new sharing requirement.
Read the full story at Chalkbeat.org.
