Colorado
Lawmakers propose matching fund to help property-poor Colorado school districts – Sentinel Colorado
DENVER | Situated within the San Luis Valley, the Heart college district serves practically 600 college students, most from households that don’t earn a lot cash. The valley’s farmland doesn’t generate a lot in the best way of property tax income, both.
Heart struggles to pay for extras like band devices and necessities like a secondary math trainer or a trainer educated to assist the greater than 40% of scholars who’re studying English. Key employees positions sit open for years.
Colorado college districts with extra property wealth typically get voters to approve additional taxes to lift trainer pay, assist artwork and music applications, or rent extra counselors and nurses. However a property tax enhance generally known as a mill levy override that might generate $235 per scholar in Denver would increase simply $58 per scholar in property-poor Heart.
A invoice within the Colorado legislature seeks to deal with probably the most vexing inequalities in class finance by making a state matching program to spice up native tax efforts in districts with low assessed values and low median incomes. Supporters examine it to the favored and profitable BEST program that gives matching grants for college building in districts that couldn’t increase sufficient cash on their very own.
Aurora Public Faculties is taken into account a “low-property wealth” district and has for many years requested voters to move property tax will increase for funding, typically efficiently.
“A scholar’s ZIP Code shouldn’t decide their academic alternative, and proper now, due to the mill levy override alternative, funding actually will depend on the native property tax wealth,” stated state Sen. Bob Rankin, a Carbondale Republican and member of the Joint Funds Committee who has referred to as for reforms for years.
Colorado really seeks to forestall this sort of inequality by setting a minimal per-pupil funding degree and backfilling no matter base property taxes don’t cowl.
The mill levy override or MLO system exists exterior the primary college finance system — that’s why they’re referred to as overrides — offering additional {dollars} on prime of base funding. Faculty districts can increase as a lot as 25% greater than their base funding — 30% extra in rural districts.
Extra districts passing overrides
Using overrides has grown during the last decade as Colorado lawmakers have withheld college funding to pay for different price range priorities, from $580 million in 2010 to $1.4 billion in 2021. However the override cash isn’t distributed evenly.
One mill — $1 for each $1,000 of assessed worth — may generate wherever from $21 per scholar to greater than $5,000 relying on the property wealth in a given group. Districts with a variety of business or industrial property or a variety of oil and gasoline exercise have greater assessed worth.
Districts which can be primarily agricultural or residential — together with some suburban districts which have comparatively excessive incomes — have decrease assessed values. Colorado taxes a a lot smaller portion of the market worth of residential and agricultural properties.
In flip, college districts are inclined to have a better time promoting voters on small tax will increase that generate some huge cash than on massive tax will increase that generate little cash. The state’s matching fund proposal seeks to alter that calculation.
If voters in low property wealth districts comply with a tax enhance, the state would match a portion of the cash primarily based on a system that takes under consideration assessed worth and median revenue.
If Heart voters raised taxes by 1 mill, the state would supply greater than $2 for each $1 in native taxes.
In District 49 exterior Colorado Springs, the place the median revenue is sort of twice as excessive however the dominance of residential property retains complete assessed worth low, the state would supply about 50 cents for each greenback in native taxes.
A plan to assist districts with much less taxable wealth
The system was developed by a working group of faculty district monetary officers. District 49 Chief Enterprise Officer Brett Ridgway stated it was necessary to create a mannequin that accounted for the way a lot communities might moderately afford to contribute to their very own colleges. The mannequin neither penalizes districts the place voters have opted for greater taxes nor rewards ones the place voters merely aren’t politically inclined to assist taxes.
These 30 districts have comparatively low property wealth and have already handed mill levy overrides:
Adams 12 5 Star Faculties
Westminster Public Faculties
Deer Path 26J
Aurora Public Faculties
Walsh Re-1
McClave Re-2
North Conejos
Crowley County
Harrison
Widefield
Fountain
Peyton 23 JT
District 49
Miami-Yoder
Plainview
Stratton R-4
Mesa County District 51
Dolores
Mancos
West Finish Re-2
Fort Morgan
Weldon Valley
Swink
Holyoke
Monte Vista
Sargent Re-33J
Moffat 2
Revere Faculty District
Greeley-Evans Weld 6
Yuma
A particular committee on college finance declined to endorse the invoice earlier this 12 months in a party-line break up, however two Democratic members, state Sen. Rachel Zenzinger of Arvada and committee Chair Julie McCluskie of Dillon, joined Rankin to sponsor the laws late within the session.
“I might have forged a tie-breaking vote, however I assumed the extra prudent strategy was to proceed the dialog,” McCluskie stated. “Now we have been speaking in regards to the mill levy issues for years. This resolution comes from college leaders. That’s actually necessary.”
Republicans have raised questions on whether or not state {dollars} ought to incentivize native tax will increase and whether or not this can be a sustainable resolution to small districts with excessive prices.
“I’m not purchased into the concept that making a state match in order that if an economically impoverished space taxes themselves extra and we take that cash out of the economic system, it is going to assist college students,” stated state Rep. Colin Larson, a Littleton Republican who serves on the particular committee, in an interview.
And state Sen. Paul Lundeen, a Monument Republican, requested backers throughout the committee listening to whether or not this might change into one other Band-Help on a damaged college finance system.
“What number of applications have we created?” he requested. “What number of are absolutely funded? What number of are partially funded? What number of are unfunded?”
Leslie Colwell of the Colorado Kids’s Marketing campaign has pushed for mill levy reform for years. She stated the invoice represents a significant change.
“That is actually probably the most obvious inequities that we’ve got in our faculty system, and it’s grown over time,” she stated. “When it comes to focused investments that might make an actual distinction for college kids, this might be my prime precedence.”
Funding stays doubtful
Rankin stated the established order is immoral and ought to be unconstitutional in a state that guarantees a “thorough and uniform” schooling to its college students.
Emotional supporters congratulated one another within the hallway after the Senate Training Committee voted 5-2 Thursday to advance the proposal, but it surely nonetheless must be funded. If all 72 eligible college district took full benefit, it will price about $165 million a 12 months. Funding 30 eligible districts which have already handed additional taxes would price $65 million, in response to an evaluation developed by the college district working group.
However regardless of the co-sponsors all sitting on the Joint Funds Committee, funding for the plan was not included within the price range. The appropriations committee comply with allocate $20 million for a pilot program. McCluskie stated it will be worthwhile to jot down this system into legislation even when it doesn’t get funded till later.
Ridgway stated districts would achieve extra from the mill levy match than they’d from lawmakers absolutely funding Ok-12 schooling.
“The districts which can be affected by this are affected by it greater than they’re by the damaging issue,” he stated, referring to the state’s annual price range withholding. “That’s the mathematically true reply. They might use this to go to their group and say, we’ll get a great match from the state when you assist us out.”
Heart Superintendent Carrie Zimmerman stated if the invoice passes, she would urge her college board to ask voters for a tax enhance to make the most of the match.
She would use more money to rent and maintain extra extremely certified lecturers, together with by supporting an area effort to construct trainer housing. She’s used a mix of long-term substitutes, retired lecturers, and on-line applications to fill her staffing gaps, however these aren’t everlasting options or, within the case of the net applications, even efficient, she stated.
“The funding would enable us to do issues like supply housing or pay journey stipends or present a few of these perks that might appeal to individuals to eager to work within the career,” she stated.
Zimmerman helps the invoice and thinks a mill levy override would stand an honest probability, however she nonetheless needs the state would enhance funding with out requiring cash-strapped households to dig deeper.
“The group was very supportive of our bond, and that was as a result of we acquired BEST funds they usually noticed the worth of these {dollars},” she stated. “It’s simply irritating that the burden is at all times positioned on our group, which is already working so onerous.”
Bureau Chief Erica Meltzer covers schooling coverage and politics and oversees Chalkbeat Colorado’s schooling protection. Contact Erica at [email protected]
Colorado
Colorado authorities address safety in Aurora community amid growing concerns of Venezuelan gang
As panic over Venezuelan gangs in the community continues to spread, Aurora police visited an apartment complex Friday to reassure neighbors that officers are there for them. Meanwhile, the mayor is taking a much tougher approach.
On Friday, the City of Aurora released video of Interim Police Chief Heather Morris and a cadre of officers meeting with residents at an apartment complex that has been at the center of media and online discussions about Venezuelan gang activity.
“We’re out here because we care,” Morris said. “We want to reassure the people who live in this community that we are actively investigating criminal activity and listening to them.”
Earlier in the week, a former resident came forward with security video showing men with large guns and said she doesn’t feel the police are taking the issue seriously.
“There have been so many occasions that I’ve called the police while I’m sitting in my window watching the crime take place, and they will call me and say, ‘I’m sorry, but we’re not coming,’” Cindy Romero said.
Her car was even shot before Aurora City Council Member Danielle Jurinsky helped her find a new place to live. Jurinsky, who has been insisting for weeks that apartments in the city are being overrun by dangerous Venezuelan gangs, says the police and city need to act before someone gets hurt or killed.
“I have had city leaders give interviews, essentially trying to make it seem like I’ve made this entire thing up,” Jurinsky said. “I think that politics is being played here with people’s lives.”
On Friday, Aurora Mayor Mike Coffman posted online that the Aurora City Attorney’s Office will request an emergency court order to clear the apartment buildings.
Coffman also noted that while he is ready to take action, the apartment complexes that have experienced the most trouble are owned by the same out-of-state owner and have a history of crime that predates the trouble with the Venezuelan gangs.
Aurora police say it never denied that Venezuelan gangs exist in the city and have a task force to handle the situation, but the department believe the problem is being overstated.
“I’m not saying there are no gang members living in this community, but what we’re learning is that gang members have not taken over this complex,” Morris said.
Colorado
How to watch the Colorado State vs. Texas NCAA college football game today: Livestream options, more
The Texas Longhorns host the Colorado State Rams today for a Week 1 college football showdown. The Longhorns enter their first season in the SEC and quarterback Quinn Ewers is already an early Heisman Trophy contender.
Keep reading for how and when to watch the Colorado State vs. Texas NCAA college football game today, even if you don’t have cable.
How and when to watch the Colorado State vs. Texas college football game
The Colorado State vs. Texas game will be played on Saturday, August 31, 2024 at 3:30 p.m. ET (12:30 p.m. PT). The college football game will air on ESPN, and stream on Sling TV and the platforms featured below.
How and when to watch today’s Colorado State vs. Texas game without cable
While many cable packages include ESPN, it’s easy to watch the game if ESPN isn’t included in your cable TV subscription, or if you don’t have cable at all. Your best options for watching are below. Note that streaming options will require an internet provider.
Sling TV: The most cost-effective way to stream college football
If you don’t have cable TV that includes ESPN, one of the most cost-effective ways to stream college football this season is through a subscription to Sling TV. We suggest leveling up your coverage to the Orange + Blue with Sports Extra tier to get more NFL and college football games this fall.
The Orange + Blue plan regularly costs $60 per month, but the streamer currently offers a half-off promotion for your first month, so you’ll pay just $30. The Orange + Blue with Sports Extra plan is $45 for your first month and $75 per month after. The Sports Extras add-on ($15/month) features 18 channels, including ESPNU, SEC Network, Big 10 Network and ACC Network, making it a great option for watching college football this fall.
The streamer is also currently offering big savings on four months of the Orange + Blue tier plus the Sports Extra plan when you prepay for the Sling TV Season Pass. The plan costs $219, reduced from $300.
Note: Because Sling TV does not carry CBS, Sling subscribers will want to add Paramount+ to their bundle. Paramount+ and CBS Essentials are both subsidiaries of Paramount Global.
Top features of Sling TV Orange + Blue plan:
- Sling TV is our top choice for streaming major sporting events like NASCAR.
- There are 52 channels to watch in total, including local ESPN, NBC, Fox and ABC affiliates (where available).
- You get access to most local NFL games and nationally broadcast games at the lowest price.
- All subscription tiers include 50 hours of cloud-based DVR storage.
- You can add Golf Channel, NBA TV, NHL Network, NFL RedZone, MLB Network, Tennis Channel and more sports-oriented channels (18 in total) via Sling TV’s Sports Extras add-on.
Watch the Colorado State vs. Texas game free with FuboTV
You can watch every college football game airing on network TV, including today’s Colorado State vs. Texas game, on FuboTV. FuboTV is a sports-centric streaming service that offers access to almost every college football and NFL game of the season. Packages include CBS, Fox Sunday NFC games via “NFL on Fox”, NBC (“Sunday Night Football”), ESPN (“Monday Night Football”), NFL Network and more, so you’ll be able to watch more than just today’s games, all without a cable subscription.
To watch college football without cable, start a seven-day free trial of Fubo. You can begin watching immediately on your TV, phone, tablet or computer. In addition to NFL football, FuboTV offers MLB, NBA, NHL, MLS and international soccer games.
Top features of FuboTV Pro Tier:
- There are no contracts with FuboTV — you can cancel at any time.
- The Pro tier includes over 180 channels, including NFL Network. (You’ll need to upgrade to Ultimate for NFL RedZone.)
- FuboTV includes all the channels you’ll need to watch college and pro football, including CBS (not available through Sling TV).
- All tiers come with 1,000 hours of cloud-based DVR recording.
- Stream on your TV, phone, tablet and other devices.
Watch the Colorado State vs. Texas game on Hulu + Live TV
You can watch college football, including ESPN, with Hulu + Live TV. The bundle features access to 90 channels, including both Fox and FS1. Unlimited DVR storage is also included. Watch every game on every network with Hulu + Live TV, plus catch live NFL preseason games, exclusive live regular season games, popular studio shows (including NFL Total Access and the Emmy-nominated show Good Morning Football) and lots more.
Hulu + Live TV comes bundled with ESPN+ and Disney+ for $77 per month after a three-day free trial.
Waiting for the game to start? Check out Amazon’s college football fan shop
If you’re anxiously waiting for today’s game to begin, now is a great time to check out Amazon’s college football fan shop. The Amazon College Fan Shop is filled to the brim with officially licensed fan gear: You’ll find jerseys, team flags, T-shirts, hoodies and more, including tons of great gear for the football fan in your life. There are plenty of great deals awaiting you at Amazon, too, including some must-see deals on TVs for watching sports.
Tap the button below to head directly to the College Fan Shop page on Amazon and select your favorite team.
What is the Texas Longhorns current team ranking?
The Texas Longhorns are currently ranked 4 out of 134 teams, according to our sister site CBS Sports.
What is the Colorado State Rams current team ranking?
The Colorado State Rams are currently unranked out of 134 teams, according to CBS Sports.
When is the 2024 NCAA college football championship game?
The College Football Playoff National Championship will be Monday, January 20, 2025, at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.
Colorado
After video of armed Venezuelan gang shared by local official goes viral, Colorado city takes action
Aurora, Colorado Mayor Mike Coffman announced on Friday that the city is starting the process of clearing the apartment buildings where transnational armed gang Tren de Aragua has taken over.
In a statement posted to Facebook, Coffman shared “the Aurora City Attorney’s Office is preparing court documents to request an emergency court order to clear the apartment buildings where Venezuelan gang activity has been occurring by declaring the properties a ‘Criminal Nuisance.’”
“This will require a municipal judge to issue the order with the goal of getting these properties back under the control of the property owners. In the meantime, the law enforcement task force set up to disrupt and arrest Venezuelan gang members in these buildings will continue its operation. I strongly believe that the best course of action is to shut these building[s] down and make sure that this never happens again,” concluded Coffman.
One has already been picked up. In an email to Fox News Digital, Aurora Police Department confirmed that Tren de Aragua leader “Cookie Monster” is currently in custody in relation to a shooting on July 28.
Fox 31 reports that the men seen in the video that has gone viral are armed members of the Tren de Aragua gang, according to Department of Homeland Security sources.
FORMER COLORADO APARTMENT RESIDENT SAYS GOV. POLIS ‘WOULDN’T LAST FIVE MINUTES’ AGAINST ARMED GANGS
The move to apprehend the armed Venezuelan gang members comes after a blitz of national media attention on the city of Aurora thanks to the efforts of Council Member Danielle Jurinsky.
After assisting residents Cindy and Edward Romero on Wednesday, they were able to share a video which has since gone viral online and on the air.
Jurinsky was soon featured on the Ingraham Angle telling the Romeros’ story, and Cindy Romero joined America Reports on Friday to bring attention to the problem.
Colorado Governor Jared Polis has come under fire for his handling of the situation, including from Romero herself, saying the Democrat “wouldn’t last five minutes” in the building. His spokesperson, Shelby Weiman, told the New York Post on Thursday that the issue was “largely a feature of Danielle Jurinsky’s imagination.”
After a request for comment from Fox News Digital in response to Romero’s statement on America Reports, the governor’s office responded by saying “Colorado is a zero-tolerance state for illegal activity.”
COLORADO CITY COUNCIL MEMBER FIRES BACK AFTER GOVERNOR’S OFFICE DISMISSES ARMED GANG TAKEOVER AS ‘IMAGINATION’
“The Governor hopes that the city of Aurora shares this basic value and will enforce the law. Over the last month, Governor Polis has been in regular contact with the City of Aurora and the Aurora Police Department and has offered all state assistance to support their efforts if requested,” said spokeswoman Shelby Wieman.
“If Danielle Jurinsky has evidence of illegal activity in Aurora that can assist the investigation, it might even be illegal for her to withhold it from the Aurora Police Department and she should file a report immediately. The state has been ready for weeks to back up any operation by the Aurora Police Department needed to make Aurora safer,” the statement concluded.
Colorado’s capital and largest city, Denver, is a sanctuary city. Aurora is a suburb of Denver.
The apartment building has been completely overrun by the alleged gang members, including changing the locks, according to one resident. (Council member Danielle Jurinsky)
Jurinsky noted she isn’t the only local official speaking out, though the governor’s office singles her out in statements. “There’s other council members speaking out on this, like there’s other council members speaking, and they just don’t have the platform that I do to really catch fire. But there are other council members speaking out. It’s not just me,” said Jurinsky in a call with Fox News Digital.
Polis’ office did not respond to a request to clarify whether the governor’s statement was intended to threaten Jurinsky.
Jurinsky celebrated in a call with Fox News Digital, saying “I am happy that what I have been saying is now confirmed. It is a shame that people had to suffer for as long as they did, but I am happy that this gang will now be addressed.”
Aurora City Council member Danielle Jurinsky moved out several residents from one taken over apartment building on Wednesday. (Danielle Jurinsky)
“I hope that in the future, I will be taken more seriously and heard the first time I bring something to someone’s attention. Aurora is my hometown and well worth the fight! Thank you to all of the police officers and residents who helped me bring this to light,” Jurinsky added.
It is unclear when exactly the armed gang members will be apprehended and the buildings will be cleared.
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U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Denver did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
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