Wednesday, February 16, 2011
It's Nasty Out There
I guess Hickenlooper really meant it when I asked him in October how we will handle the budget issues for education. He said, "We'll have to figure out how to do more with less." I am shocked at how deep his cuts to education were in the proposed budget. Unfortunately, many of us are at the point where, as teachers, we (who are in front of children most of the day) are doing as much as we can physically take on. Doing more? How could we do more? When? I think it is more logical to think it will be more like we will have to"do less" for our kids when the classroom teachers are maxed out.
Monday, February 14, 2011
Education not feeling the love from our state this Valentine's Day
Check out Capitol Connection for updates on bills. You can sign up for email updates on your private email account.
http://ceacapconn.wordpress.com/
The Colorado State Budget for 2011- 12,
Be Ready:
As you have heard Gov Hickenlopper will roll out his proposed 2011 – 12 budget tomorrow, Tuesday, February 15. We know the CO State budget is $1B short. Yes, that is One Billion! This year the K – 12 cut could be $300 - $400 million. Last year was terrible. This year is worse.
Why?
-We are a part of the worst recession in 60 years.
-The state of CO is still losing tax revenue.
-Income taxes, sales taxes and property taxes are all down.
-Tax collections lag a year behind.
-The state does not have enough money to fund current programs.
-A state wide tax increase to raise state revenue must be approved by a state wide vote of the people.
-There are no Federal Stimulus dollars coming to CO from Washington, DC.
As the Legislature moves into discussions on the 2011- 12 budget and the $1B shortfall, lawmakers will be discussing cuts to K -12, higher education, and other state funded programs. The state budget could reflect a cut in K – 12 state spending of 10 -14%.
How do we get out of this state financial problem?
We can wait until the economy improves, which may be a very long term solution. We can push to raise local revenue by conducting local mill elections. This requires the voters in your district to approve a mill that raises local property taxes. We can work to develop a wide coalition and put a tax increase on the CO ballot state wide. This would be Referendum C style coalition.
Polling shows us that voters are just now beginning to understand the state of CO cannot simply cut their way out of this economic crisis. Voters in recent polls have asked for a balanced approach—cut state and local programs and figure out a way to raise revenue.
Stay tuned. Help us teach voters how drastically cutting K – 12 funding is not the best solution for Colorado.
Your help will be needed to bring this funding dilemma to your community.
http://ceacapconn.wordpress.com/
The Colorado State Budget for 2011- 12,
Be Ready:
As you have heard Gov Hickenlopper will roll out his proposed 2011 – 12 budget tomorrow, Tuesday, February 15. We know the CO State budget is $1B short. Yes, that is One Billion! This year the K – 12 cut could be $300 - $400 million. Last year was terrible. This year is worse.
Why?
-We are a part of the worst recession in 60 years.
-The state of CO is still losing tax revenue.
-Income taxes, sales taxes and property taxes are all down.
-Tax collections lag a year behind.
-The state does not have enough money to fund current programs.
-A state wide tax increase to raise state revenue must be approved by a state wide vote of the people.
-There are no Federal Stimulus dollars coming to CO from Washington, DC.
As the Legislature moves into discussions on the 2011- 12 budget and the $1B shortfall, lawmakers will be discussing cuts to K -12, higher education, and other state funded programs. The state budget could reflect a cut in K – 12 state spending of 10 -14%.
How do we get out of this state financial problem?
We can wait until the economy improves, which may be a very long term solution. We can push to raise local revenue by conducting local mill elections. This requires the voters in your district to approve a mill that raises local property taxes. We can work to develop a wide coalition and put a tax increase on the CO ballot state wide. This would be Referendum C style coalition.
Polling shows us that voters are just now beginning to understand the state of CO cannot simply cut their way out of this economic crisis. Voters in recent polls have asked for a balanced approach—cut state and local programs and figure out a way to raise revenue.
Stay tuned. Help us teach voters how drastically cutting K – 12 funding is not the best solution for Colorado.
Your help will be needed to bring this funding dilemma to your community.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)