MEEKER I Campaign efforts to pass a property tax increase to help fund Meeker’s public schools are under way.
According to Citizens for Meeker Schools, the Meeker schools need additional funding due to budget cuts at the state level. The Meeker School District has been forced to reduce and eliminate programs and activities for students, and the Citizens for Meeker Schools believes that a mill levy override is the best way to fund the education of Meeker’s students.
“Many districts in Colorado have asked their voters for a mill levy override, and that is what our group decided to do,” said Natosha Clatterbaugh, the chairwoman for the Citizens for Meeker Schools.
The Citizens for Meeker Schools group began as a response to the fiscal emergency that was declared in January by Superintendent Mark Meyer.
Because of the complex way that school funding is administered by the State of Colorado, it is very difficult for local school districts to adequately fund education, Meyer said.
“It’s not just the Meeker School District that is dealing with this fiscal inadequacy.” Meyer said. “There are currently 22 districts in the state that have been ‘red-flagged’ by the Colorado Department of Education because of the declining funding for public education.
“This mill levy override is about doing right by our students,” he said. “They deserve the same opportunities in education that their counterparts are getting across this nation; the only way we are going to accomplish that is to pass the mill levy override.”
As the election draws near, the group has begun campaigning around town. They had displays at the Fall Festival this past weekend and have several other events planned
“We want all of the voters in Meeker to have as much information as they need to make an informed decision about this tax increase,” Clatterbaugh said.
On Oct. 9 at 4:30 p.m., volunteers plan to meet in the parking lot at the Methodist Church to walk around Meeker and distribute information to voters. All community members are invited to participate.
Volunteers will also be handing out flyers at home games in the upcoming weeks.
If you would like more information about initiative 3A or would like to volunteer to help, you can find contact information at www.citizens4meekerschools.com
