The Capital Construction Assistance Board for the Building Excellent Schools Today (BEST) program has declared formal opposition to Amendment 60, Amendment 61 and Proposition 101.
One resolution opposed Amendment 61 and another opposed Amendments 60 and 61 and Proposition 101. Both were adopted at the Capital Construction Assistance Board meeting last week. One resolution stated, “Colorado has been falling behind the rest of the nation for decades when it comes to investment in education and preschool through higher education. The three initiatives on the November 2010 ballot threaten to slash both local and state funding for education far below this already unacceptable level.”
Resolution 10-3 states, “Amendment 61 would ban the use of Certificates of Participation (COPs) by the state of Colorado. The BEST program relies on the issuance of COPs to provide funding for the vast majority of the health and safety school capital assistance provided by the program, which would prevent schools from providing adequate student facilities and healthy learning environments. The BEST COPs do not require any increase in state taxes or fees.”
Resolution 10-4 states, “Amendment 60 would cut local support of public schools – including mill levy overrides already passed by local communities – in half, without providing the state any source of funds to make up for the loss.”
Resolution 10-4 also states, “Proposition 101 would cut an array of state and local taxes that currently support preschool, K-12 and higher education.”
To read both resolutions, visit www.cde.state.co.us/cdefinance/CapConstMain.htm
About BEST
The BEST legislation increases the level of financial assistance provided to school districts, charter schools, Board of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES), and the Colorado School for the Deaf and Blind for capital construction projects, particularly in school districts that can’t afford to meet their own needs.
The function of the Public School Capital Construction Assistance Board is to protect the health and safety of persons using public school facilities and to maximize student achievement by ensuring public school facilities provide a safe and un-crowded environment that is conducive to student learning.
The source of revenue for the Assistance Fund is revenues from the State Land Trust, lottery proceeds, matching grant funds, interest on money in the Assistance Fund and remaining dollars from the prior grant program.
