Friday, December 5, 2008

Mill Levy Calculations Will Be Sent to Districts Next Week


 
Commissioner of Education Dwight D. Jones today said Colorado's 178 local school districts will receive mill levy calculations early next week, following the Colorado Supreme Court order today that allows the Colorado Department of Education to proceed under the terms spelled out in Senate Bill 07-199.
 
Senate Bill 07-199 stopped scheduled property tax rollbacks and the Supreme Court order issued today provides clear authorization that the department may proceed according to current law.
 
A lawsuit is pending that challenges the constitutionality of that legislation (Mesa County Board of County Commissioners vs. the Department of Education and Gov. Bill Ritter).
 
Today's order was in response to a motion filed earlier in the week by CDE and the Colorado State Board of Education requesting that the Colorado Supreme Court provide an indication of its decision-even if the full decision wasn't yet written-in time for CDE to issue guidance to the state's 178 school districts. Local school boards are required to certify mill levy rates for the 2009 tax collection by Dec. 15, 2008.
 
"Today's order preserves the status quo and allows the department to work with local school districts in determining the appropriate mill levy collection rate," said Commissioner Jones. "We appreciate the fact that the Supreme Court understood this pressing need and provided the necessary guidance."
 
Earlier this year, a Denver District Court judge had ruled that Senate Bill 07-199 was unconstitutional, but the Supreme Court order today holds that decision in abeyance.
 
For more information, contact Mark Stevens, 303-866-3898, or Megan McDermott, 303-866-2334, in the CDE Office of Communications. To sign up for the CDE e-mail news service, please visit http://www.cde.state.co.us/Communications/index.html.