Mill levy would ensure school sports can continue

RANGELY I The Rangely School District and The Western Rio Blanco Recreation and Park District are working together to continue the positive trajectory of the school district’s academic achievement and to assure sports/activities for the next five years with a mill levy proposal in May.
What is the purpose of the mill levy?
The purpose of the mill levy is to provide funding for school district sports and activities.  The school district’s budget has been significantly cut over the past five years as the state struggled to balance its budget.  The school district receives 67 percent of its funding from the state general fund.  In order to continue to maintain sports, academic, special education, transportation, food service and other programs in the school district, additional revenues are required.  The state has not been able to fund schools at the level they agreed upon in the state school finance law.  Therefore, it will require Rangely citizens to assure that Rangely sports and academics programs will be available at current levels for the next five years.
What is the role of the recreation district?
The recreation and park district has agreed to put forth a mill levy that would generate $325,000 explicitly for interscholastic sports and activities. The revenue from the mill levy would fund all sports within the school district for five years.  The term “activities” applies to sports and clubs such as chess club, math club and FFA.
When will it sunset?
The tax will automatically end in five years.  The cost of the tax will be $11 per year for a $200,000 home value for homeowners.  The mill levy rate will increase if property values decrease, and conversely the mill levy rate will decrease if the property values increase.  The majority of the cost will be paid by corporations that own real property within the Recreation and Park District’s legal taxation footprint.  According to the Gallagher amendment to the Colorado constitution, business owners pay approximately four times the rate of residential real property owners.
How will this election affect coaches?
The responsibility of the school district for supervision by the athletic director for coaches is not impacted in any way by this agreement.  The coaches will report directly to the athletic director.
How will this impact student eligibility?
The eligibility of the students will continue to be a school district’s responsibility in accordance with CHSAA guidelines.  The athletic and activities programs will see no visible difference with the partnership. 
Why can’t the school district fund sports they way it has done so in the past?
The school district continues to receive less revenue each year for academic, special education, sports, activities and transportation needs.  The district has significantly reduced expenditures and additional cuts would impact academic and sports programs in the district.
How will the election be managed?
The campaign will be managed and privately funded by an independent citizens’ committee.
How will the passing of the mill affect gate receipts?
The school district will collect gate receipts to meet the needs of athletics needs such as track repair, scoreboards, baseball field lights and other capital items.  These items were not calculated or designed to be included in determining the size of the mill levy. 
How will the mill affect participation fees and activity cards?
The school district will collect participation fess and sell activity cards to meet the needs of athletics needs such as track repair, scoreboards, baseball field lights and other capital items.  These items were not calculated or designed to be included in determining the size of the mill levy. 
How will the mill affect sports and activity student fund raising?
The school district will limit, regulate and restrict fund raising in order to eliminate door to door sales by students for district interscholastic sports and activities.  However, summer sports programs outside of the school district responsibility may at their own decision fund raise.  Any proceeds from allowable fund raising from district programs will be utilized for capital items such as track repair, scoreboards and baseball field lights.  These items were not calculated or designed to be included in determining the size of the mill levy. 
How will the mill affect academic programs?
The mill levy will allow the school district to focus its resources on academic programs.  The school district is focused on increasing the academic achievement of its students.
How will the mill affect sports and activities?
The mill levy will guarantee the availability of sports and activities in the Rangely School District for the next five years.  It is the hope of the school district and recreation district that state funding will rebound and fund schools at the statutory level.  If needed, at the end of five years the citizens of Rangely will be able to extend the mill with a vote of the people.
When will the election take place?
The election will be a mail-in ballot process on May 8, 2012.
What are the cons to this mill levy?
Increased taxes at an amount of approximately $11 per year for a homeowner of a $200,000 valued house.  Business property owners would pay additional taxes at the higher property tax rate per the Gallagher amendment. 
What are the pros to this mill levy?
The mill levy would guarantee sports and activities for the next five years at the current levels.  The school district would be able to re-allocate sports and activities funds to instructional and student achievement programs.  This will allow the school district to continue to improve the educational growth of its students while not impacting their ability to participate in sports or activities.