School districts face significant financial sustainability challenges from declining enrollment, state funding mechanisms that disadvantage districts with charter schools, and rising operational costs including transportation ($400,000 annually) and activities/athletics ($700,000+ annually). Sustainable solutions include exploring bond issues for capital improvements, mill levy overrides, city sales taxes, energy performance contracting for facility improvements, and better utilization of district-owned real estate. The district must balance immediate cost containment with long-term revenue strategies while building community trust through transparent communication about financial challenges.
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Board Work Session - 5-28-2026Añadido:
I just, you know, I'm going to jump ahead because if it halfway through it tell us who was on this task force and I want to start with that because we have two of the of the members sitting at the table with us. Well, I think more than that, but um I was I was on the task force. Laura Gordon was the other board member on the task force. um David Curator joined us to help with um financial advice and and helping us understand things and then I was pretty much the person that invited these other u members and I want to I just want to list them off and explain why. Um Tamara Buttery was invited. She is a retired realer in the community and knows the community well, has been here for a long time and she asks really great questions. Um, and big supporters of the school district. Um, David Buttery is the uh, former city manager and also former military. David has a great understanding also of the broad community that we work with and also has a pretty good understanding of taxes.
Um Rebecca Parrot just with us right here. Um, Rebecca, you guys may remember to be a board member and at that time I noted her incredible knowledge and insight into government funding and um, uh, that sort of thing and just her energy and ability to research things and so I wanted her to be on it. And also I knew that she had children at the charter school. So, I felt like it was important to have that representation.
And Carol Harvey sitting here probably knows more about schools in Colorado and sales tax than anybody um because of all of the research that she did when she was on city council. And then Steve Wolf was also on this um task force. and Steve is a um former superintendent in our district and also has a pretty good understanding of um school finance. And so that was the team that came together.
And I'll just read our charge. It was to review financial data, operational pressures, funding mechanisms, and organizational considerations impacting the district's long-term financial stability. um to research and evaluate additional revenue options for Woodland Park School District, delivering comprehensive funding to the board to guide future strategic decisions.
Our first meeting was on April 3rd and the last meeting was yesterday and we met five times. Um and there was a lot of discussion. It was very hard to hold the meetings to the time frame that we had allotted. Um, and it was also very hard because we went off in different directions all the time because we would think of something and kind of chase it down a trail and then many of us did research um um on our own, came back, presented it and so we have put together um mostly Rebecca and Carol have put together this document for us to kind of guide our discussion tonight.
Um, and I'm just going to go ahead and start. And I would say those of Laura, David, Carol, Rebecca, feel free to interject at any time. Um, and also feel free to ask questions everybody else because we this is just very informal.
We didn't make any slides. You all know I can't do that anyway.
So, let's let's go from here. Okay. We we looked at initially we looked at a lot of the things and why why with a with a desire to really understand um where some of the financial challenges and pressures have come in. We all know that there's been declining enrollment in the district and that has impact on district revenue.
Um the long-term we know that long-term state sustainability requires financial and organization stability, community engagement and public confidence influence enrollment behavior and long-term district stability. And I think that we've see that um in our in our homeschool members. Um it's not a fluke um to go from 100 homeschool students to 326 in just a few years.
Especially because the state of Colorado, it's actually been pretty stable and only a few school districts larger than ours have had a higher number of students changed to homeschool in their community.
While significant operational e efficiencies and cost containment a e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e effortsforts have already occurred, operational reductions alone are unlikely to fully resolve long-term financial pressures.
The task force believes Woodland Park School District has meaningful opportunities to strengthen long-term s sustainability and provide positive experiences for students, staff, and families. The task force is encouraged to see Woodland Park District enter a new phase focused on stability.
This report, which outlines recommendations for the next steps, concludes the work of the task force.
Period.
Um, and now we're going to go through a little bit of just a summary of some of the findings. The task force received historical data identifying possible and verifiable causes for an immediate need to identify financial solutions for future district viability. All data points represent the challenges for teacher and student recruitment and retention as well as sustainable facility maintenance and operations.
[clears throat] We have declining enrollment and revenue trends.
Community perception definitely impacts enrollment behavior.
Transportation costs are difficult. um they are rising and we um I this was a a surprising thing that David um said to told me this week that the required transportation cost for students that alone costs our school district $400,000.
Wow.
It's high.
And that I believe that that's the more severe needs that we have to do that specialized transportation with. Right.
Okay.
[clears throat] Um we need to consider operational cost allocations related to charter school operations and try to even those things out.
Homeschool um and out of uh district enrollment losses are things that we need to um uh try to chase down as well.
there are state funding mechanisms that are a problem. Um, and I don't know if every if I have talked with everyone around this, but one of the problems, and this is a I I talk about some of these things annoy me and and I'm going to mention charter school. I'm not blaming it on the charter school. It's coming from Denver.
So the way that the total programming um is set up in our state is that it looks at your district and it decides you have this categorical funding for your special um for different areas, special ed, at risk population, etc. And um and that that stays with the kid.
And then they look at total program funding. And that total program funding um looks at how many um what's your population? What are all of these other populations? So it's the second way that they fund those populations. Then they take that total program funding and they say okay now if you have a charter school in your district you give that per pupil funding to that charter school. And the example I would give is we have 85% of the STE students in Woodland Park School District and um Merit Academy has 15% of the sped students but because they have 30% of the students they get 30% of the total program funding. And so while we have an increasing concentration of sped students, we have decreased funding for those STEB students. And that has created some of the financial strain that we've seen because we know that um the state and federal reimbursements for the cost of that education for students covers about 30% of the actual cost of educating that population of students. And so that's that's that's become a big um cost strain for our district.
again saying district carries the cost of activities and athletic programs for students who are not enrolled in district operated schools. This is again I like to refer to this as an unfunded government mandate. Um, and this is something that will hit Mayor Academy 2 because they are a public school and so their activities and athletics will be open to all students that live within our district as well. Um we have because of that increasing homeschool population and because of um having a charter school, we have a large number of students that participate in our activities and athletics that are both from home school and from the charter school and we get no funding for those students. So the funding, the per pupil funding for the students that are in the district rent schools pay for all the activities and athletics and that's open to all kids that are within our community. We love that, but [clears throat] it's a it's an unfunded government mandate. Um and we um um I talked to my brother and sister-in-law in Arkansas about this.
And if you live in the state of Arkansas and you want to play a sport at a at a high school, you have to take two classes at that high school.
That's that's very fair because then that helps cover the cost of that sport.
And I think David and um I think you're still working on an exact cost of what activities and athletics cost us, but when we think about it, we forget that it's um the um it's it's the the maintenance of the field. It's the referees. It's the uniforms. It's the um coaches.
It's the transportation.
Um it's the um the parah for the stipens for the coaches. It's the substitutes to cover the classrooms um when the coaches are gone. It's the cost of the activities um secretary, the AD salary and the athletic trainer salary. All of that is what supports and it is a huge you're guessing around $700,000.
Well, now that you've mentioned more things, it's over now. [laughter] >> It's it's huge. It's a really important thing for our school, but because we now are funding it from a much smaller pool of students, it's but still providing um those those opportunities to all students.
It's become a big financial challenge for us >> because I'm a number person. I just want to add like because this really says it all for me. You know, we're upping our athletic fees, activity fees. And so, for example, basketball, we're upping it to 200 250 for our inschool students and then 300 for our um or >> it's it's it's always >> an amount and then one and a half times.
So, >> right. So, if it's 200 for in school, 300.
But the concern is that for the homeschool families, like you know, why why do they have to pay more? Um, and part of that is because they're not bringing the per pupil revenue that our in school families are. And the cost per student, if I recall correctly, for basketball to have a program is 1,200.
So our athletic fees are only covering, you know, not even $1,000 and that the rest of it then is coming out of our peril revenue. So we really are subsidizing for any students from homeschool or merit quite a bit in those programs.
>> Right. And I think that initial table that you're talking about is a low estimate because I think it didn't include >> um some of those other pieces like the um >> the subs >> and all of that all of that. Yeah.
>> 1200s above. [clears throat] >> Yeah. Um it is a great service to the community and I really think it's important to do. It's just important the community understands why it's become such a financial burden for us.
Um and then the general fund um reserves declined from 11 million to 3 million over the last four years.
Um, I don't remember if it was three years ago or four years ago, but there was a salary increase given and it came out of reserve funding, which is a never a never do because you can't sustain it out of reserve funding. And you know, I asked David this week, I'm why why does it feel so different this year in terms of our budgeting process? And his comment to me was they have been using rever there's there have been reserve funds used for operational and salary costs for the last three years.
And if we're not going to do that, if we're going to actually have a balanced budget, then that's pretty tough.
Um the loss of the sales tax has contributed to it and then the obligation to repay that certificate of participation has fallen on the um um the district schools uh district run schools. It comes out of the per people funding for the kids that attend um the district run schools.
um we have a lot of deferred maintenance and rising costs in general.
So that led the task force to consider some immediate and ongoing actions for consideration um strategic areas for further evaluation and broader sustainability opportunities identified um throughout the process. some of the immediate and ongoing activities. Um, we recognize the district has already implemented numerous operational adjustments and cost containment efforts in response to financial pressures.
There's been a direct immediate spending breeze. Uh, [clears throat] there's been review of purchase services agreements um with Merit Academy. There's been a review of athletics and activities fee structure.
Um there's been is being a development of a comprehensive student recruitment and retention staff initi retention initiative.
Um I know that Karen and and the team are exploring all available grant opportunities. I was excited to hear that there's another one.
Um, and one of them that we um discussed was conduct conducting a facility energy survey. Um, and this I don't know if I have this in here later that we can talk about this more, but did you all um get the information that I sent on that?
Um there's one um one one of I talked to both Snyder Electric and Johnson Controls at Jason's um encouragement and they are both companies that do energy performance contracting and then they also um are available to come in and do more of the um uh uh maintenance things that we need and even um can help with um uh preparing the information needed to go forward um for a bond for um capital improvements and things like that. Um and if you have interest in hearing a little bit more of that in a few minutes when we get a little further in the presentation, um Jack who prepared this um is actually here tonight.
We've talked about um a 4day um schoolwork week as a as a board and a staff and that may be worth consider continuing to consider.
Um we have seen um staffing reduction and reallocation and we know that uh Laura's been working on the effort to establish a finance committee. Um and then we also know that there's reactivation of a boosters club.
Some strategic areas for further evaluation begin public relations campaign to bring students back to the district. Review facilities use agreement with Merit Academy. Review special ed spending modification with the charter school.
Coordinate with city and county administration to identify potential shared resource allocation.
Um, and that I I'm just gonna reach out in the audience. Jason, have you have you already done a little bit of that?
I had a conversation with somebody today who was saying that the city has the ability to pour sidewalks and do some things like that that might be cheaper than what you can get it done from the outside. No. Okay.
>> No, they uh given us the opportunity to participate in their contracts.
>> It wasn't wasn't good for us financially to >> Okay. But I think, you know, always looking for places that we can share things is helpful. Um, and one of the things that came up was exploring the sale slash lease of district-owned real estate.
Like there's some extra real estate up behind the football field and then some area around follow.
And it might be worth I know I just heard Ginger sigh, but um you know it might it it it might be worth exploring and finding out if there's um um potential value there. Um evaluate a potential daycare or preschool facility in the gateway building.
Um schools can be used. I checked um um with CDE and schools can be used for something like that.
Um reactivate the school district foundation.
Um review redundant services. Um identify outsourcing options.
Engage private consultants for stakeholder feedback. So, you all got a um a thing from in the email. I'm sorry.
One of the things I emailed to you was a proposal from Mellin Strategies. Did you guys look at that? Yeah. That um when I talked with um Jack from Snider um when I talked with um the gentleman from Johnson Controls and then I also spoke with um where's the name? Dan O'Connell with RBC Capital who does bonds. They all every single one of them suggested Mellin Strategies and have found that it's it's it's so helpful to have a company that that will go out and survey your community and help come back with um these are the these are the things that your community needs more education on. These are the things that your community would be willing to support financially. Um I and I spent some time talking with um I believe his name is Dan. Yep. Dan on the phone and his comments were um if we have a desire to do something this coming November, we're we're pretty late in the game, but they're um they can come in and do quick um survey and find out what it seems like, you know, voters would be interested in. I don't know if anybody got to the point that they saw the price tag on that is 17,000 and change.
>> Um so that's a that that's a that's quite a bit right now for us. Um but that's something um to be considered.
And so we're going to go into a little bit um of the ideas on the broader sustainabil the sustainability opportunities and um we're just going to talk a little bit about each one. I'm going to tell you if you all were hoping that we would come to you and say this is exactly what you we think you should do and this is exactly when you should do it.
that wasn't, you know, that wasn't what we what we came up with. I think the consensus was that we aren't really very sure that this is um a year that voters are going to be very um willing to um uh vote on an increase in taxes. Um, we we sort of feel like that it's important for the district to show that they're doing everything that they can to get their financial house in order. Um, I think the community definitely wants to see Merit Academy and the district sit down and work together a little bit better. Um and I think those those things are advised before we try you know to move forward with something. However, we also listen to David and David feels strongly that there are, you know, very immediate needs with it. And I can tell you that as a a board of education, we have until um we by the by July 23rd, if we're going to do anything in terms of have something on the November ballot, we have to let the county know by July 23rd. Um that we have to have it. And I think David gave me a >> Is that the same deadline if it's for the county or the city or the pattern?
Um I I think it's a county ballot. I don't think there's just a city ballot.
>> City is only in April and you would have to do the coordinated with the county.
>> Yeah. Yeah. Um and let's see. I think Yeah. I don't think this is on there.
I don't have the other dates on there, but we have But it will be a if we decide we're going to do it, it's a it's a pretty quick turnaround that we'll have to make a decision, decide what we're doing, and work with somebody and get going on it. Um, but let's talk about the options right now. Um, I'll I'll start with talking about bond and then we're going to have other people um chime in here. Um the bond bond issue um is typically for capital imp improvements. Um and in that we can roll our our current certificate of participation into that. Um and our current certificate of participation has 10 years remaining on it with about with a payment every year of around 7 to 800,000.
>> 725ish.
Um yeah, every year. Um and bonds are you when when you do a bond, you work with a company. Um and I spoke with the guy, it's not the same guy that we've worked with as a district before, but it but it is the same companies that we've worked with before.
and he his comment was that actually that pulling across the state is not very favorable um for bonds this this coming year.
But he said that the bond you work with the bond company and they work to get the the best interest rates for you.
They work with you and he even knew the name of the attorney. I didn't write it down that we've worked with before on our bond because you get an attorney to write it up and then that bond company will help you with the ballot question and they they they make money off of it and so they help you with the whole um campaign process. My understanding is that if we did a certificate or if we did a bond and we worked with um say Snyder Electric, their role would be to come in and do kind of a a facility survey and help present the need to the community. Is that accurate, Jack?
>> Yeah, that's for sure.
>> Yeah. Yeah. And so there are, you know, there there are ways to get help with that. Um he said that that the the the gentleman Dan at RBC Capital felt like next year is actually typically a better year um to pass bonds.
So Carol, I just have a general question as we're getting into this whole area which is >> all of these are different different mechanisms to drive revenue.
>> Yes. I just don't know if do we know how much money we're looking for? Like that's do we have a target? Because I mean there's lots of different obviously levers you can pull and percentages of sales tax and all of these things, right?
>> But I don't actually know like what would feel good and sustainable. So did you guys do any work to like >> um Well, we talked about for capital improvements, David, do you recall what number we talked about that we needed for that?
>> I don't remember. Put your hand up.
>> [laughter] >> I don't remember the number, but I know it's lower than what Jason would be asking for, but it seemed like 10 million was the like an immediate need when it was already [laughter] >> objecting to 10.
>> I know we heard the number like 40 million in deferred maintenance, right?
But I know like even just looking at like the amount of money we lost of the sales tax was what, like 3.6, right? And I don't even know if that was like good and enough at the time you lost it. It's just even harder now. So I just really curious like what is that?
>> Well, the and and the thing about a bond is it's very specific in it would have to be designated for capital improvements.
>> Now, it does have the impact of freeing up money, you know, for other things except that we're not really spending much money right now on capital improvements anyway. Um, and so that would be a bond. And when when Laura talks a little bit about mill levy, she'll be able to provide a little bit more in terms of number and what a certain number of mill increase would cost um our our community and what that would bring to the district. So if you were to roll the um say it say it is 40 million for capital improvements and then roll in the cop repayment which would be what 10 million >> between now and 20 36 >> yeah it would free up the 725,000 you're right of the bond of possibly 50 million. Um, the nice thing about a bond, if there's a nice thing at all about borrowing money, is that it doesn't impact the taxpayers's purse immediately. It's not like a mill levy increase or a sales tax increase. It's the school district borrowing money using somebody's collateral.
If a company came in, as Carol described, that would advise us on how much we're eligible to borrow, it might fall below that 50 million mark. Uh, two school districts in 2025 passed bonds for, I think, for Douglas County, they passed a bond of 595 million.
>> Wow. That's Douglas County. Um, Aspen passed one in 2024 for about 50 million that that included u projects to that um included a affordable housing project for teachers.
But again, it's not hitting anyone's pocketbook. It's it's um but it does hit the school's liability in terms of >> can you continue to pay off that bond for next x amount of years [clears throat] >> and and you know the it and and reading some of the information we had about bonds it actually does impact the mill levy a little bit.
>> Yes.
>> Um it will it will increase the the taxes a little bit. I think it's a little bit harder. we kind of have to work with the bond company to figure out what that would look like, >> but because and the part of the reason I know that is when we um got the sales tax in 2016, we retired a bond which then um took oh I want to say something like 1.6 mills I don't know Kelly >> no it was yeah 6 mills 6.25 mills off of so there was 6.25 two five mills that were going towards the bond that we had that we now are doing the COP for.
So um yeah, so that would be um and and the bond would help get us way going for capital improvements. Um and can I share something issues? I've done many for the city of Little Park.
>> Yeah. And the ability the size of your issue meaning the amount of capital that you can raise is directly results in the amount of debt service that your financials will support.
>> So you've got to be able to pay that debt service into per into that 30 it's probably going to be a 30-year issue, >> right?
>> And it the sizing will directly feed it feed from that.
>> Okay. That's what some of the districts like in Denver have been hit hard with with declining enrollments. Today they qualify 15 years from now they don't and it's created some cash flow crisis.
[clears throat] >> So we just need to be mindful of that kind of thanks for raising that.
>> Yeah. Thanks.
>> Would be a good time to hear from Jeff.
Do you guys want to hear about the the the energy audit? Jack, you want to talk a little bit about energy audit?
>> Yes. And just what it is and >> Yeah.
>> Okay. Yeah. So, I'm a Schneider Electric. We're an energy services company and our whole role is to help schools fund facility improvements. Um, at the North Jason, the better part of a year, we know there's a lot of facility need here. Um, so we can start off with an energy audit or a more in-depth facility condition assessment. And that's the route that a lot of districts take when they're preparing for a bond issue because it's really important to have those detailed information. Here's exactly where our our deficiencies are.
Here's what it would cost 5, 10, 15 years down the road. Having all that data to really win your community support for a big ask. Um but that starts off with a free energy audit.
We've done a little bit of that work with Jason, but we um and it depends on how you want to fund it. So mentioned energy performance contracting. That's a funding mechanism outside of a bond and outside of your general fund. So that's a way to make facility improvements by using future energy and operational savings that arise from the improvements we made. So really good example is lighting. We have mostly fluorescent bulbs here. If we move to LED, that's about an 80% 70 to 80% drop in your electricity spend on just lighting. Um, we can then use those savings to fund up those upfront improvements on the lighting and make some controls and some HVAC and then you pay for those over time with those savings. So, you're not having it's not new dollars that you have to come up with. it's money that you're already sending to the utility that you can then um pay in a debt service, but it would cover the um upfront costs. So, that's that's separate from a bond issue. I just want to be clear on that. And some school districts will use that to supplement a bond. So, we did that with Canyon City in the run-up to a bond. We did an energy performance contract that was self-funding and that took away some of that unsexy deferred maintenance that lowered the ask they had to do with their community and we put together a whole PR campaign about how the district has been responsible financial stewards of their money. they've exhausted these other options and they credit that with helping them build some more community support that bond and then we can also support on the bond side um by doing those improvements just different funding mechanism if that makes sense and happy to [clears throat] answer any other questions so it's just a I have one question on the energy of the the energy performance >> um if you if if we're using the energy savings to pay off the cost of the upgrades.
>> Yes.
>> To create those, how many years generally does it take >> to pay that off?
>> It completely depends on what scope you want to tackle and what savings opportunity you have. So, um, a pretty standard term length is 20 years. We have done 10-year term lengths with districts and it just depends on how much you want to get done with it and how much savings you have. I will say Woodland Park does have pretty good savings potential due to the fact that um it's unusual in this day and age.
I'll just be honest for schools to be pretty much all fluorescent lighting. So that is a that's a fairly large just savings potential that can maybe pay that back faster. I don't have the numbers in front of me. Um, also going to a more robust building automation system or maybe just a functional building automation system that can have some pretty significant savings too. Um, but all that to say it depends, but 20 years is a is a pretty standard. We see 10. We don't we never go longer than 20 really. Um, statute. Um, yeah. Yeah, 20 is pretty standard.
>> Good. Thank you. Any other questions for Jeff?
>> General question, but I don't know I don't know um if maybe others can answer this or if this is something you can bring on, but you mentioned a >> difference between the >> purely like the energy performance versus a like a full facilities condition assessment, right? And I'm curious like if you could speak a little bit more about that and then the follow-up question I have for this group is did we do something like that at the time that the facilities master plan was initiated in 2022 and so I just want to know like do we have good data already to work off of but maybe you can speak to the scope of it.
>> Yeah. So I think I was saying energy audit versus oh energy audit. Yes. Yes.
The energy performance contract and that's separate. That's actually the funding mechanism for a project. Um, in energy audit, we're really focused on the things that save energy. So, we're looking and we're looking at that with the lens of a self-funding pro of developing a self-funding project. So, that's looking at your lighting, that's looking at the BAS, that's looking at the HVAC. Um, a facility condition assessment is more more closer to a facility master plan that that's looking at your roofs, that's looking at the condition of your pavement, your sidewalks, of all every single HVAC equipment, the new stuff. understanding.
Okay. When does that need to be replaced? Um, so it is really helpful.
It sounds like you maybe I know you did a study master plan how many years ago exactly that should have most of that information. Things can get outdated pretty quickly. I >> was going to say does that is it still relevant if it was even if it was done I think 2022.
>> They didn't execute a full they gave a presentation on it was like the beginning stage but it never went past that like that just That 30,000 foot document was where it ended is my understanding never got >> a facility master plan was actually never developed from that.
>> Yeah, >> my understanding >> interestingly the and I'm I'm trying to remember his names gentleman Kevin. Yeah, Kevin actually worked at that point in time. He worked with the company that did our facilities um um survey and he told me they never got to do the final report.
>> So yeah, but he is very familiar with our building because of that because he was involved in that.
One question to help us with deciding whether we can even go forward this year or whether it would be better to wait till next year is like if if we were want wanting to do an energy audit audit with in conjunction with the bond would you um how long would it take you to complete the energy audit and then turn around and give us the report?
>> Yes. in energy audit or FCA >> that Yeah, the energy audit is different. That would be the self-funding thing that wouldn't require a bond.
>> Yeah.
>> Right. But but then, you know, cuz that's the that's an upfront fee, right, that we would be paying for you to complete. But then you're telling us the savings that we could potentially have.
>> Yeah. in the energy audit. That's a free assessment we do in the goal of developing this self-funding project. In FCA, there would be a fee associated with that. Um, we could do both before November for sure. Um, in Energy Auto would be a little faster. We could probably we could get that done realistically if we were to start tomorrow in the next month. Um, and FCA to develop that would probably be a couple months. Um, I'll just speak candidly, I it it is a short runway to get that information, to socialize it with your community, really build that case. Um, but I mean, it's it's certainly possible.
Does that answer your question?
>> Yeah, sure.
>> I think um um yeah, we don't have any long runways right now.
the um uh one a question that I have. I don't I don't actually know if since there's not a um a dollar amount associated with it, I'm not sure if we need board approval to do the um energy audit and move forward with with doing um the energy performance contract. Maybe we do since it's uh >> so for us to come out and do this energy audit. No, that would be free of charge.
That would be our team just getting on site doing a little more robust than what we did um back in July. I would just want to take another look at it's been >> nine months or so.
>> Um for you to enter into an IGA, which is the next formal step of project development and performance contracting, that does require board approval. um or I've never seen it not require board approval. I would recommend a board of approval. And how that works is that's a way more formalized development process and there's an exit fee associated with that. So at that point, you haven't committed to doing a project to address your lighting and all that. But that's when we go in, we actually develop a project, we develop this, we calculate the savings down to the penny of what you will save each year. Um and then at the end of that, you can decide whether to move forward or not. If you don't, then there's an exit fee to cover some of the costs we approve during that project development phase. If not, that exit fee is rolled into the cost of the project, which is paid for with utility savings.
>> And those savings are guaranteed.
Correct.
>> The utility savings are guaranteed.
Yeah. Yes. Sometimes we look at operations and maintenance savings. For instance, if we replace an HVAC unit, the idea is you don't have to spend as much maintenance on a 20-year making or a new maintenance unit versus 20-year maintenance costs less to maintain. We work with you to calculate those savings if you want those parts of the project and those sometimes are not guaranteed, >> but we can get that's getting into the weeds. But yes, the utility savings on your like lighting and your BS, those are all guaranteed.
>> Gotcha. Yeah. And I don't know, maybe this is assume, maybe it's not, but it would include um Meritt's building, >> correct? That's Yeah, >> that's what I've heard from David and Jason that want to include it. We just Yeah, that's a building contained.
All right, let's move on to um mil.
>> So this is based on median property value off of the teller county accessor and that was residential. I didn't really get a commercial um but residential median value was 475,000 in 2025 and commercial was coming around 500,000.
Um and this is just to give an idea of what like the average Teller County citizen the impact of a levy increase would be to them. Um, so if we were to, we can look at it either as like raising mills or raising a dollar amount. And so I'll start with the dollar amount. If we were to ask for a million dollar increase in funding, it would be 2.09 mills and it would be about $70 to the average residential uh property per year. Um, and which is le a little under $6 per month and um for commercial it would be $260 per year. So that's to the mill. I mean if you you know you're looking at 10 million that's times 10. Um, and then mills is I I don't even know if you you want know what a one mill would be asking people. But yeah, that's um a mill levy override would be for other expenses. You could do teacher salaries out of that. Um um operational activities, athletics. Um, I think it was Carol that brought up you could if you did a bond and a mill together, you could use the mill to pay um for the bond >> um and make sure that that got, you know, taken care of quickly. Um the uh the suggestion from the the task force was that anything that we asked voters for would be very very specific in how it was going to be used and it would be sunsetted so that um it did not feel like a forever and ever and ever. that the the voters would have an opportunity to, you know, vote to continue that or not continue that at some point in time.
>> Um I I just want to clarify um [clears throat] it says mill levy or mil levy override, but we're talking about the mil levy override as like the actual measure, right?
>> Yes.
>> The mil levy exists in and of itself.
It's not like a different one or something like that. They're just overriding the >> baseline. And you know, just for reference, it's an interesting thing in our community. This has not really changed since 2016 when we did the sales tax. Um, our uh total mills in Teller County are fairly high. There are a lot of taxing districts up here.
um the the mills that go to the school.
While it looks very high, because it is a large portion of the mills that we pay in our taxes, in comparison to all of the surrounding school districts, ours is very, very low. I believe we're at 29 mills right now that go to the schools.
Manitou Springs, for comparison, has 58 mills that go to their schools. They have passed multiple mill levby overrides and hence they have more funding for their schools and that's and that's a challenge that we have in our in our community because our our citizens feel heavily taxed and they are fairly heavily taxed. It's just that we don't have as much for the schools as you know I think um um maybe it was Academy 20 that I saw that was even at like 64 mills or something like that.
>> And um with the with the overall school funding model I think we've t you've talked about several times how like just because your property tax goes up doesn't necessarily mean the schools are getting more money. I think that's a general misconception, but >> correct.
>> Um, how does that work in relation to a mill levy override because does it change the funding formula or you just you just get more because your community says yes >> mostly that >> however you can do the mill levy override in two different ways. There was a mill levy override and a bond that were passed I want to say it was in 2003 through 2004 time frame. It's when they did the addition to um Merit Academyy's building and the math edition and the auditorium at the high school. Um and they um the voters it failed in 2003 and it passed in 2004 and the um um what they did with the mill levy override and they both passed by the way. Um, but what they did with the mill levy override that time is they set a dollar amount of a million. Is it a million or a million point2?
>> 1.1 >> 1.1 million. And so that's why when you look at our our our property tax that the mills will go up and down a tiny bit. And so that piece is related to property values. Instead, it the other way that you can do it is you can say one mill or two mills. And if it's one mil or two mills, as your property values go up, then you get more money for the school.
>> But that's not the way that we not the way that we did it or no, we I wasn't there.
>> But in 2011, uh there was a vote for a a pure mil levy override by mill and it was defeated.
>> It was Yeah. And what's the what's the timing or the cycle of a property tax assessment like when property tax changes or >> you get it annually don't you?
>> Right. I mean in the assessor it's an annual >> okay >> assessment.
>> The reassessment is every other year.
But they do fluctuate each year. But the the reassessment is everything >> in odd years you said.
>> So just thinking about that like perception wise, right? Like people are going to their property is going to be reassessed in 2027, right? And the value may or may not change, right? In that assessment, >> then it's not collected till 28.
>> Keep that in mind. It's it's one year behind.
It's assessed in one year collective the next profession.
>> Yeah.
Um and so I think before before I move on to have Carol talk about sales tax, Rebecca, you want to talk about some of the other, you know, creative things that we looked into and and um what we found or what you found on those. Uh so two uh potential opportunities that didn't make a cut um but might think of on your own uh was short-term rental targeted tax city or county and a sin tax city or county. And what we found was with short-term rentals there's a lot of laws about how you can use that money. Um, also when you actually calculate the the the benefit, um, it's not the juice is really as important to squeeze. Um, same with syntax when you actually do some per capita spending multiplied by a potential increase that just really wasn't worth the squeeze.
And also with in a consideration in any of this, a county sales tax would be split um between the school districts or whatever programs that they they fund.
So those are two.
>> Yeah. Yeah.
Um, and Carol, you wanna you want to give your your presentation and thoughts on if we were to do a city sales tax, what >> we we we spent a lot of time talking about a potential city sales tax, bringing the sales tax back. Um, and in my research over the years, right now there are four municipalities that collect sales tax for school districts for educational purposes.
we would have been a fifth if we were still doing it. Um, but very quickly, the county can also um ask for a referendum to increase our county taxes, but again, if that were to occur, the money would have to be split between two school districts. It's out there. It's a possibility, but we focus primarily on bringing back the a city sales tax. Uh, and very quickly, I'll just hit the highlights of those four municipalities that I was talking about. Creek and Victors had a sales tax in place since um 2023 and it was a a short a short shortterm uh sales tax of I use pink it was point it was a 1% sales tax and it would have uh expired in 2026 and it was for very specific purpose construction of a trades or mini factory culinary arts facility and an adult education certification program. Uh and they were collecting that tax. Now again, you got to remember they have a student population up there of 280 students. U they uh of all of the municipalities I'm going to mention, uh Triple Creek is the only one that does tax groceries, which is which is very significant. But um last year, uh Triple Creek decided to go ahead and retire that tax and ask for an extension of the tax for other purposes and it passed.
Um, understanding that the city of Creek collects that tax and then distributes it back to the school district with an administrative fee. Uh, but for their 2026 2027 budget, they believe that they'll bring in about $625,000 with that tax. Not a big tax, but again remember they've only got um 280 students. Aspen is an interesting animal. Um they have had a sales tax in place for some time. Again, they don't tax groceries, but uh some time ago they passed a a.3% sales tax for the school district. It's collected by um a third party which I think is is significant to point out.
And again, their student population funded population is uh,5,526.
Um, the uh.3% sales tax was to expire in 2031.
And I mentioned before that they uh had a bond question. It wasn't in 2024. It was actually last November in 2025. They not only went back to the voters and asked for an increase of that.3% sale sales tax to 6, they asked for a millie override and a bond. Um I think their bond was actually 78,000 or 78 million. All three passed. They hit the trifecta in November 2025.
be great to be asked but I don't know.
Uh and the bond again I was point out it was going to be used for capital improvements which is what bonds are supposed to used for but the big project was housing for teachers.
um the the fund or the the monies are collected by the city of Aspen to say we were doing here in Woodland Park, but the request for that money is approved by a seven member board that was uh at the time that the original um tax was approved by the voters. They also approved the seven member board by me and then as the board trits uh the board itself reappoints the replacements. is a nonprofit. Um they are registered with the state and they take uh requests from the school district for what they're going to spend that money on and then they disperse it. That board approves the expenditures and they're very specific in what that can be used. Um Aspen also has a foundation similar to what we had discussed is something that might be brought uh reactivated here in the district. um and they get money as a nonprofit from donations and they distributed about a million dollars to the school district last year from that that foundation. So they've got a bond a milly override now a 6% sales tax and then they have this other foundation that will consider requests from not only the the public school but private schools as well. um Steamboat Springs um a smaller well actually Steamboat Springs and um route county it's 20 almost 2500 students they have um a what is the percentage it's oh it's a half cent sales tax in other words 5 cents on a $10 purchase it's also administered by an education fun board, another nonprofit. And again, it's the process of once this the money is collected by the city, then it's redistributed via the board by approval.
Um, and that does have a sunset on it. I think their sunset right now is 2028.
Um, Blackhawk is an interesting animal.
They have a fairly blackhawk is also built in county one school district.
They're um they only have 329 students, but they have a 1 and a.5% sales tax, but it's only on uh purchases made in the gaming industry, uh lodging, food, beverages. Um and they I want to say they collected um last year year to date in December was 1.8 8 million from those sources. Um that is to the decision on how that is uh spent is uh through an an MOA with the the city of Blackhawk. No, I take that back. It's with the uh Gilen County.
That's how that works. Um then if you go back to this sales tax that we had here in Woodland Park that was passed in 2016 and that was after about a three-year effort of uh several different task forces that got together again addressing what we're trying to address here and that's revenue sustainability or financial sustainability. Um the tax was passed 1.09 in 2016.
Um it the ballot question itself um did not mandate but recommended that the tax be used in four specific areas. Uh and on an annual basis via an IGA, an intergovernmental agreement, how that money was spent was reported back to the city council on an annual basis.
[clears throat] uh up until about four years ago um previous CFO took the road show out and anybody who would listen to him from HOAs to you know American Legion whatever said this is how we're spending your tax dollars um a lot of things happened between time that CFO was here and he left and that a lot some of it was uh due to COVID we no longer had open meetings we were doing everything by Zoom uh we had a an entirely new board come on uh who probably did not have the history of how that uh uh the agreement between the city and the school district had occurred and we lost track of how the money was spent. I won't go into the fact that ultimately uh the city uh is responsible for collecting city sales tax. The city um over time charged an administrative fee to do that and then the city simply gave it on a monthly basis. The income it usually ended up being about 45 days in a rears after collection and then distribution to the school district to use.
>> Yeah. Because it's not due and payable for let's say October is not due and payable till November 20th. But there's always >> the school budget was based on a guesstimate of what that revenue would be and it in 2016 it was about even though it was not enacted until July that year. Uh that year they brought in about 2.5 million. Over time it it fluctuated between 3 million 3.2 million. Uh a city manager forecasted it could have he had anticipated it would go up to about four million this year.
Um I I think um his forecast on tax revenues uh fluctuated a little bit. May not be that much anymore, but at any rate it it was around 3 million a year. Um and the school budget was based on anticipation of that revenue. Um long story short, the tax was um rescended last year in 2025 and that loss to the school district was approximately $3 million a year with an anticipation of it going up. Um there are a couple of ways to bring a sales tax back to the city. And one of the things that uh the task force was was pretty adamant about in our small group was if it should come back in some format, it must be specific in what it would be used for. It must have a sunset and it should have I'm not going to mandate this or say it was a mandate, but it was highly recommended that there be a third party that collected that money. and distributed it. It takes the onus off the school district and the city. The tax could be brought back in two ways. It could be by a city council ordinance putting it on the ballot or it could be a citizens initiative. The school board for a lot of different reasons cannot initiate the ballot issue. uh if it's f brought in by the uh city council by ordinance and put on the ballot even as early as this year uh then the school school district would enter into another uh intergovernmental agreement with the city on how it would be collected in the street code if it's by citizen initiative um the city still has a very large part in how it would be managed the city still has to collect it, the city still has to distribute it and even if the city council doesn't like it, the city council is still responsible for ensuring that it's it's spent in the manner in which it was intended. So I know I some of my fellow colleagues from city council were just like no we don't want to have anything to do with it. If it comes back by a citizens initiative they will still have a very large part in managing that tax.
Um, in the recommendations that we made as a task force, my personal opinion is that a bond is going to go further in solving the financial issues for the the school district. A city tax, although estimate between three and four million a year, is not going to make the same impact as a bond. But I would not discourage anyone who feels like a sales tax is appropriate whether it's this year or next year.
But I I would recommend Ginger go to Aspen and have a great day over there next time. [laughter] And I and I will just say that there is um um interest in the community um amongst a group of people that are considering doing a citizens initiative for a sales tax.
>> What I see I mean there's a need for both. Uh the timing I can't speak to the timing. Sooner the better in my opinion, but the bond is obviously used for the deferred maintenance. that wouldn't free up much at all for the operating uh could reduce could increase 725,000 by not having us cover the coop but that would be it from a bond. So u and operating which I think we also need if we want to continue to invest at the level we want to in in our students I could see I'm not sure we would need the whole 1.09% 9% out of Woodland Park out of the city. But that would definitely be very helpful even a portion of that.
>> That was always I was on the council at the time that was approved. It was when I first met Carol Green Street, you kidding 1.09? [laughter] I don't think so. Uh but and I'm not certain where that percentage came from, but it was identified immediately that a percentage of it would go to the coop, you know, once the the previous bond was retired uh and the mill uh the mills 6 point actually 6.75 mills were um retired.
Then the school district a loan. That's what a certificate of participation is.
It's a loan. and they used Summit Elementary as collateral for that loan.
Um, but the wording was such and in the IGA that was signed with the city is that every time at that money would be used $725,000 a year to first make the cop payment and then everything else was uh in in order of merit. And really there wasn't order of merit. It was teacher retention, recruiting and retention. It was uh operational and maintenance and I think at that time it was putting a new HVAC system on top of >> roof of the middle school >> the middle school >> middle school roof was the first thing >> and then uh secondary uh school preparation or preparatory courses >> technology I think yeah uh safety and security was not included in it and those were the areas um and as I said the city council and the city managers, all of them since that time never questioned how it got spent by the the CFO who came before city council every year and briefed it. But as I said, that was not the only time it got reported. That CFO was on in the streets all the time laptop in a car and I'd be happy to drive around and [laughter] explain how we would spend any additional funding we got.
>> It was an important effort. I don't want to downplay what he did, but as I said, we lost that um that transparency and I I would never say that it was intentionally lost. It was just the you know the perfect storm co new school board, new superintendent and loss of bubble district. Yeah, >> the summary um I this is the board's preference. The summary that I just gave you on on sales tax for those four municipalities is available.
Um the remainder of the report you guys um is kind of an appendix with some focus areas. And I think when I sent that out to you all, I said we weren't necessarily going to go through all of the little pieces on here. But if there was anything on here, you know, that you all, you know, wanted to, you know, [clears throat] wanted to discuss a little bit more, you know, one of the things that I think um um is crystal clear and I mean it's the the the state of the district. I don't know how many people were there and then how many people tuned in afterward. But I think um number one, school finance is complicated.
School finance is so complicated. Um number two, even people that work in schools at not admin levels don't understand school finance, let alone the general public, you know, understanding school finance.
And I had somebody came up the other day and said, "Why don't the taxes just pay for buses?" When I was growing up, the taxes pay for buses. And it's like, well, yes and no. They do and they don't. They pay they it the per people funding is the taxes and that covers everything, not just the busing, you know. So, I mean there's there's one of the things that we talked about was the need for education in the community to help them understand um the financial challenges and the needs and to have consistent and really clear communication.
um common messaging even you know be ready with elevator speeches that you can expound on a little bit. Um, that's one area that we talked about is that we just we have a a fairly we have an uneducated community and perhaps a community that doesn't really care to be educated for a large part because we have such a large retired community and many of them it's just not part of their their their daily thinking. And so that's a that's just a big challenge for all of us.
I want to call another focus area evaluate district property and facilities opportunities because I think that one also didn't get really brought up in our presentation.
>> Yeah, go ahead. Uh but just any you know we still have more utilization of Gateway as was even presented today uh to consider and any leasing or rental opportunities and David and Jason have well you've mentioned the uh building by the warehouse the maintenance >> yeah converting Jason's house to um rental to maybe a staff or teacher.
>> Yeah. So just opportunity these steps we already have of our properties generate revenue.
>> May I say something about that?
I I agree. There's, you know, ways to better utilize facilities. I'm not sure why the number one topic of discussion isn't consolidated facilities. You know, you can't pay a debt service for a $50 million bond and you can't afford to because you're using underutilized facilities. So that's not on here as a primary objective in properly utilizing the facilities to their appropriate um uh pupil level. Um the same number of facilities are being used right now that were being used in 2011 with double the amount of students that we have right now. and gateway. It's great that it's being used for certain things, but also costs money. Um, you know, adding um a building like that to to use for, you know, wonderful things like JOTC and ProStar um that costs money. So, you know, I'm just not sure why that isn't a bigger part of the discussion is it's not the popular to go. You know, it's hard to close facilities, >> but when they are costing so much money >> and they're underutilized, why isn't that the number one thing we discuss?
>> What um um what would you recommend in terms of what facilities are underutilized? I'm I mean I've been to all of our elementary schools and I don't know that I've seen any empty rooms >> and I know that our at at least at Coline our sixth grade is still outside and affordable.
So >> there's also there's also classroom being a whole classroom being the teachers lounge. So much changed >> but you know if you look at functional capacity the numbers are what they are. So you know I you know what is the what is the utilization of pupils per functional capacity in these buildings?
>> What are our what are our classroom sizes in our elementary like how many kids per first second third grade? Probably a good estimate would be between 18 and 20.
>> Okay.
>> Um that would be an average. Some are higher. Every once in a while we have a little bit lower, but most of them are probably higher than that honestly because we have two grade levels per >> for the most part. I'm sorry, two classes per grade level except there's only there's one outlier at Summit that has one just one teacher. It's just kind of going through.
>> Okay.
>> Well, the question the question is how did we benefit 3,100 students in the same number of buildings that we now have 1,600 of them.
>> Sure. Well, and I and I and I don't always know that 3,100 was a good I'm not not sure that that was a good model. I don't I don't like 30 elementary school kids in the classroom. I like a, you know, a smaller teacher student ratio. And so saying that there were that many doesn't mean that that was ideal.
>> Sure.
>> Yeah. But we can't afford you know to keep all those facilities open.
>> What is the average class size? I'm just curious 2022.
>> So similar as what we have >> you know we we I wouldn't say that we didn't prioritize building utilization.
discussion started and the discussion point started when you know it's you know it's the duh of course we lose students but we still have to maintain the same buildings and that cost doesn't go down it actually goes up no matter how many kids are in our classrooms um so our discussion really went down the path of how do we utilize facilities like gateway um and I'm sorry that Steve Wolf is not here but he did a little bit of research which is also contained in our folder that needs to be made available to the board. Uh of preschool and daycare being used or being started at Gateway, which would be better utilization of the space. Tonight is first night. I realize that uh our the junior ROC program would also be using space there as well, but there's still space to be used and daycare, especially when you're talk when we talked about uh the option of a 4 day week.
>> What do you do? You know, parents still go to work on day. So would we offer daycare and preschool, you know, at a reduced cost to residents, but use gateway facil, you know, use that as a facil facility and and get our bang for the buck because no matter what, it's an asset for the school district. Um and I mean you know another option would be to sell sell sell gateway but um would it be better because it is a taxpayers's asset to figure out a use for the community for education and that might be kindergarten daycare preschool.
I I would add too that um as shown by like the consolidated gateway into Coline and Summit and there wasn't a savings shown and because I think utilities still needed to be run in the building. it was maybe staffing that it saved on, but we are at a point where we need the staff that we have wherever they are. Um, with our title one schools who are already struggling to meet those standards and so staffing wouldn't be reduced with consolidation. Um, it would just be utilities, but they're still going to be our buildings unless we sell them. Um and and that was one of the like property sales potential. But that is something to be discussed very thoroughly with a lot of research to you know can we even sell it at a value that would be something long-term benefiting the district and not just shortterm. I think it's also a bit dangerous to think about selling buildings because population demographics change. Um there's a something called just the the life cycle of a neighborhood and most of the people that my kids most of the parents of my kids friends still live up here but we don't have any kids in school anymore. And those kinds of things will shift and you'll see neighborhoods and there there may be a day that that will park has a lot more young families in it and those buildings may be needed again. And so it's a little bit iffy as to whether you actually sell a school or not.
>> But we do have real estate that can be sold.
>> We do have real estate that maybe could be sold. Yep.
And wasn't there isn't there also aren't we expecting I think a a newer development in the divide area that's within district boundaries of about is it 300 homes >> I think that's what they said >> build the first phase is 24 I believe >> I just if we did sell property again I view that as like bond income we should only use that for deferred maintenance nonrecurring costs, not to subsidize operating costs.
>> Right.
>> Yeah.
Any of the other focus areas, anything that you guys want to talk about?
do want to point out that it it's probably not highlighted here enough in the document, but when we were talking reviewing redundant services, identify outsourcing options, activities, um there was a lot of talk about doing that with merit at the table. So, um I think the example was the volleyball team one volleyball team district, stuff like that. So, um I don't think it's emphasized here um in the in the bullets, but he talks about that a lot.
>> Yeah, >> I think um you know, I think that that's that's an area for potential collaboration and taxpayer savings. If there are redundant services and redundant um activities, opportunities for kids and we're a mile away from each other, is there a way that we save taxpayer money by working together to, you know, are there more opportunities for one large volleyball team than two small volleyball teams or, you know, other other other options?
um CTE talked about >> CTE. Um we and we did talk about Boseies using utilizing BOSEIS to look for more ways to share um professional education things like that to see if we can save money by pulling crippled preach um over for those things and Merit Academy. If there are ways that we can we can show that we're saving taxpayer money, I think that's important.
So, tomorrow morning's meeting, is there a merit discussion?
>> Tomorrow is really going to be an internal meeting with my new leadership team to get everybody on the same page.
We have a plan in place and communicate what comes out.
Yeah, >> I I feel inadequate because we didn't give the board, you know, do this and do it.
>> I know, >> but um we talked about that short runway if if the options of ballot issues are considered or a possibility, you've got to make a decision soon.
the other uh areas that we talked about that are ongoing or that could be done short of a ballot issue um I think are all achievable those final recommendations that's that's a tough decision for the board if there is a citizen initiative out there for a sales tax that's another story al together but understand it will come with baggage and it will take um a good road show to sell it from all of us in the community if that's in fact the possibility. But again, it will not bring in the kind of money that David needs for for deferred maintenance. It'll bring in money that will offset, you know, a number of other things, but it it won't it won't take care of all of the deferred maintenance.
Can you review that timeline again?
>> If you if there's a ballot issue from anyone, whether it's bond or millia override or or tax, county or or city, it's June June 2, I'm sorry, July 23rd.
>> Yeah, they have to and that's, you know, it's not like it's all about getting the ballots created.
And the what's the date like somebody said this county in the fall and >> city you could you could put you can put a city sales tax on the ballot >> yeah in November you sure can but you could al but the other election date is the second Tuesday of April um and These would all be tabor issues and there are requirements that get attached to that that have to be accomplished before it can go about and there's also considerations date of your voter turnout who's actually voting.
>> Yeah, that you know that's interesting though those two big bonds that I talked about with Douglas County and with Aspen last November which was an off year.
>> I don't know if that's good or bad. Um, and that was that was what the guy that I talked to on the bond said that next year would more would be better than this year. And it may be that off years are just are just better or for this type of an issue.
One other thing before we close though is u we talked about um what can the county and the city and the school district do together in terms of anything from paving parking lots to snow removal etc. Um and Kelly can add to this. Um, a few years ago, the the school district and the city uh shared school resource officers. There there was a lot of different ways that it was very imaginative funding, but um at a point in time, the last two of the school resource officers, one was paid by the city, one was paid by the school district. Um, one of those two got promoted, so he was gone. Then the second one said, "I don't want to do it anymore." But the chief of police for the city said, "Here's how I'll approach this. I will offer up uh this particular type of duty um for as time and a half and I'll do it on a rotating basis."
That was four years ago when he first got here. And he said, "And the city will pay for it." Whether he's that generous anymore or not, but that is that is an area that might be worth uh exploring. Again, I I can't speak for Chief Daiso at this point in time, but that was an offer he made that it was pretty chicken.
>> And I understand the sheriff and the the chief have been in communication.
>> Yes.
>> With regards to those things again and the security and safety issues that you all have been facing. So that's good to know there's that that effort going on again because I think that's >> really important for you all. And we all we used to always split those costs 50/50. Um with the SRO's um the cost of the SRO it was typically I I I know what the school district reported last year is that they had five contract uh security officers, but I don't know if that's the case anymore, but they were contract security officers.
my my you know Chief Dicler's I don't know if she his daughter graduated this year or not but she's the chief's daughter's in this school district >> he's very interested in the security of this the school district for lots of reasons but a very personal one but I think that would be an issue worth just knowing the candidate for sheriff I think that that collaboration will pass on to the next sheriff as well so >> I think they have similar values Yeah, >> that's that's encouraging for you.
>> So, board education thoughts you mentioned that the the task force is now essentially like its efforts are complete. So um I just want to know from that perspective of task force or from your point of view like how do we carry this work forward to be able to actually flush out some of the solutions and then be able to discuss what might happen next.
>> Yeah. So um the thing to do I think if we if we and and there is language in the contract I don't remember exactly what it is but if there's another committee that makes a decision you know that we're now we are going to pursue a some ballot measure that we um form a new group committee to do that and that we include we allow merit to choose a person, board member or otherwise to also put on that committee to move forward with that. Um, I I would say if I I personally I mean I I listen to David. I I want I want to do something now.
I just feel like we're not prepared to to do something and accomplish it well right now. Um the short runway I feel like is too short to um maybe accomplish something this fall. Um that may be different for you guys. You may think otherwise and think that we we need to move forward. If we decide that we that we need to move forward in exploring a ballot measure, then my recommendation would be that we um um form a new committee immediately.
Um engage Mellin strategies to help us survey the community to um make uh decisions about what what to go forward with. um um and how to sell that that we would hurry up and get um Schneider or Johnson Controls moving on, you know, stuff. So, I would say it's a it would be a fast fast fast fast hurry up, let's get going on something.
Um and then, you know, we we have until July to commit to getting something on on the ballot. So, um the other the other option if it's like yeah no maybe aren't quite ready yet is to then um maybe also do the same thing but do that start that committee in August um after the new school year starts and uh I would still say engage like Mellin strategies and still engage people but have more time to set the groundwork for what we need to do and have had more time to show the community the things that we already are uh doing to um get the financial house in order.
Um >> didn't you reestablish the a finance committee?
>> It's in the works. Yeah, it we have to we're looking at August, September for that.
>> So, one more thing I just want to keep you to keep in mind. There is not typically an election every year. It's this November and then it would be two years before there's another coordinated election.
>> There'll be a school board election.
>> There will be a school board election.
Excellent.
>> Yeah. So, and that that's another thing.
You pay to get on the ballot and if there's a school board election um and there are people oppo running running um then we have to pay to be on the ballot anyway. And so it would take that that cost 30,000ish.
>> Yeah.
>> It would it would it would save about $30,000 to do it next year rather than this year. I don't think you can do tax or bond issues um in a special election.
However, >> you can only It wouldn't be a special election.
>> It wouldn't it would be a right because that was the the only other time I was on a ballot was in 2011 or whatever year that was that >> that that mill levy failed.
>> So, yeah. Do you know if like for me overrides or sales tax when they would be uh implemented? Like if it's voted in November, would the wording be allowed to say this takes effect in January or something? Or is it always the next fiscal year?
>> It could be immediate.
>> Any any wording you put in the ballot?
For the one in 2016, the election was in April and the ballot said it would go into effect the 1 of July of that year.
>> I kind of concur with Carol on you came back in the room.
[laughter] you know, the timing. I think the bond is very complex and I think a short runway is just not going to work for a bond initiative for deferred maintenance. And I think having time to do it right is really critical operationally. If something were to happen sooner for a sales tax or something like that, I think that would give Jason and the district some breathing room, if there was another boiler or two or an HBC roof unit that broke, I think that relief that we would have would help us get to the next year when a bond would more likely get passed. So, that that's my perspective on it.
I think too the other the only other thing I want to mention though is um like since we've had some of this uh discussion and um from the community about activities and athletics I have asked like people have approached me to say like is that something that could be like if we're if we're at risk of losing those types of things is that something that will be worth funding immediately to relieve the burden on uh on families and things like that. So I think and to your point Carol like it could as long as it was like appropriately allocated for the type of use like if that wasn't if that was an issue you know depending on how conversation goes and some of the misconceptions that we can clear up. Um, I think that the idea of of uh introducing even a very small sales tax with the intent of having some continuity in programming too might be something that the community would get behind, even if it's not a big bond um type of endeavor. And that's kind of what I've heard a little about too. I I I agree with that, Cassidy, because the activities in athletics are a service that go out to the entire community, not just the students that we serve and that we get, you know, um funds for it.
>> And so a and it's there to entertain, you know, the whole community. Um and and so in in in my mind and and it could run through a committee like Laura suggested.
Um I think it's better to come from a a citizens initiative.
I would say if there's work that I need to do, I will put that work in for the sake of the kids. Also as a parent because my daughter goes to school here and I know like three4s of the kids probably in our schools. I know a lot of the kids in Merit's school, you know, went to college and I think it's worth it for our children >> even if it's small.
So save our sports campaign really save the extracurriculars.
>> Yeah. 10 years ago it was another you know another need al together and right now what I'm hearing in the community is it's activities and athletics.
>> We can't do it without help.
>> I think our cop is taking a huge it's been a huge burden. I don't think that's possible but that's been a burden. It has been heard. Yeah.
Yep. That was an unintended consequence on our part. We didn't foresee that when we would have left left that bond there.
Have you guys discussed any type of sales tax merit? Are you guys having similar conversations?
Um [clears throat] yeah, I think um you know the conversation that I had recently with um Dr. PER run was about the count more along with the county sales tax because the way [clears throat] the numbers work according to the research that was done is that it could be a lower percentage being countywide to affect all of the RE2 families whereas the city sales tax a lot of RE2 families had no say, you know, in it.
Um, and since Creek already has a similar tax in place, it could be an even exchange, you know, for them so that everyone in the county is has a voice is represented and could um result in the same kind of revenue. Um, I think even if there were some grocery exemptions, so that's that's the discussions we have had. I don't know where your number calculations and your research went on that but >> well the the current county sales tax on all of us is 2.9% but now Creek school district has a sales tax in addition to that and I think that will be the challenge is that voters if the the county commissioners were to initiate a county tax or an increase in the county tax they'd have to get Creek to buy into it and Creek might say no a good thing going. Yeah. And they're all Yeah.
>> So I think that's why that one would be difficult to >> sell to the entire county.
>> It could, but again, you know, Creek is in a similar position in that, you know, there there's not that many kids, but you know, a lot of their families are down Teller One or all the way to Rainbow Valley um outside the city limits. So they they don't really have the same same as our RE2 families.
>> Yeah. Anybody who buys something in Ter County, you I don't care where they're coming from, they're going to pay that increased county tax.
And right now, Pipple Creek is paying count a city tax for their school district. So, I think it would be difficult to get a county tax passed. I I would never tell the county commissioners, don't try it, but um I think it would be difficult to sell to Creek and Victor uh school district residents. um two times now the city has said we'll we'll accept a sales tax initiative too would be that more well signature is needed for a county versus cities because we have 27,000 registered voters in the county and >> remember how many if it's the county commissioners who sponsor you don't have to Um, and we we talked as a task force [clears throat] about a city tax coming back that excluded uh sales on groceries and pharmaceuticals, but 70% of the tax base comes from those those items. So, you you end up with an insignificant amount to >> to fix a really big hole in the >> D.
And and Mary, maybe I'm maybe I'm incorrect now, but in 2016, we felt like the voters within the city limits of Woodland Park were less tax adverse than the voters in the counties.
>> Um, and I think that that that's another challenge to doing county tax.
And the sales tax that was passed in Creek was only a vote by the residents of Creek. And the numbers were just tiny tiny numbers, but it was enough to get it over the the threshold. Again, that that question of those that live in the county, they >> I'm just this is just reality, >> right? Go ahead.
>> Be quiet.
know you guys I've been looking at this layered capital strategy.
>> I know you love you love this electric thing but >> I know you do.
>> I like that. I like the approach where we're building confidence and trust with that community with these with these opportunities and part of you know adding to the EPC and then the best grants.
We talked about you know first we start with that committee taking my the task forcees come up with some recommendations and options start crystallizing those and and hitting it with the job survey hitting the community with that survey to finding out what is what what else do is out there what's the confidence level and then with the uh the Schneider and the Johnson Controls surveys the energy audit the EPC where we at with that options best grant after you know right now in this short runway that next thing is the best grant install bond tax go there and see look right now first step this year I'll see what we can build upon what kind of confidence and trust I'm confident that that kind of of approach is compared compared to trying to do several more of these things all once We won't do all anything well. We might do a few bite-siz chunks that we can work together on. I think the key is and I just don't feel to see you married.
We work together on this. It's we all survive together.
One of the missing links in 2016 was a a bonafide community survey and that's I think the Mellan services really would help the school district and the board understand depending on the questions >> what what what are people >> accepting that right now?
Yeah, I mean I look at that 17,000 if it helped us get across the finish line is a very insignificant amount.
It's an investment.
>> I think the return on that investment would be significant, >> but I'd only want to spend it if we're all in agreement like >> right that it's going to go. Yeah. And I I would say if we're if we're in agreement that we're not going to try to do a um ballot measure right now, you know, try to get something ready by July 23rd as a group. If we're in agreement with that, then I would suggest that um um in the next couple of board meetings that we determine what we want to do in terms of a committee to work through this next year and um and then maybe in the fall get Mellan to come in and and start, you know, working on working on the survey so that we all know where we need to go and what we need to do in terms of um education etc. >> I think the key is to keep the momentum of the all of the like the work that's been done here and to have the continuity of whatever that next step is made. I mean, I don't know that we're in a position to really effectively like conduct the research, build a a a case and figure out exactly the right measure to introduce with such a short timeline.
And there's the the need to build more community trust. And I think engaging, but making sure that we don't like set it aside and then come back a year from now and feel like we're in the same position. Like we should start that effort. We should start it now with the intent of it concluding likely next year.
Right.
>> The only concern is that your survey now your voters in 2027 are not it might not be relevant but I think you could wait it somehow. Mellin's probably >> I would think still do the survey in the fall. Is that what you're thinking?
>> I would ask Melan quite honestly because I think the timing of it probably does matter based on the timing of an actual ballot measure. I think as economic conditions and things like that evolve, I think it can impact >> the way that people would feel about it.
But um but I think that the idea of engaging them and like uh figuring out like what's going to be the best time and actually building out kind of a comprehensive plan of these are, you know, if we're going to get on the ballot in November of 27, these are the milestones, decisions that we need to make, the experts we need to engage in.
Like that's basically taking the all of the key findings from your presentation and then um and then acting on whatever we think are exploring the best possible most valuable solutions and then yeah so I think it's just like let's reform like you said create a new committee engage that committee right away and figure out what the finish line looks like >> I think I think it's really important on this one to have a longer runway but and um I think even things we're implementing now like the committee the fiscal oversight committee will help in building that trust and if that committee has been in place you know starting August and running for a year before a measure is brought that could help with that trust building piece so just giving best time to lay a stronger foundation. And but I also just want to say for any citizens out there like any citizen initiative, we're not saying no.
>> Yeah. We can't control that.
>> Right. Right. No, we'll be happy to support. Yeah. But I I I agree with Rob in terms of one one aspect is a survey, the the other one is the energy survey and the projection of savings based on that energy survey, >> right?
>> To show that we've done our own [clears throat] >> looked at options other than just as protection. And I think to the facility conditions assessment, facility utilization, like we should be thinking about all of that, especially if we're talking about one and revisiting the master plan, whether that needs to be extended or whatever. But I think that's all part of it, especially if the technically initiated. I think >> we did the energy savings at both of the last districts I worked at and it was very successful.
>> I don't know. I don't remember which companies we [snorts] used but they were both very successful >> just having the community hear that that's an option of looking at thinking about rather than just saying hey >> that's I would say that by consensus we could ask Jason to excuse me work on that that um getting that the free part the free part. Just the free part.
>> Um um because then they have to come to us to present. Correct.
>> Yeah.
>> Yeah.
>> Yeah.
>> I think so. I think so. Yeah. Makes sense to me.
Um so We have we have a thing tonight about how to form committees to review which is good because I honestly don't remember um how we need to do that but yeah we are are we >> yeah I know yeah why don't we >> let's take a quick I'll figure out sometimes I know You need a nap, right?
>> Left side.
>> It's really Thank you.
>> Thank you so much. And um we'll be in touch. Okay.
Yeah, >> good to see you.
Yeah, just >> um it went off last week when we had the random snowstorm right before We lost power for quite a while. I think everybody like you in town lost power and then somehow that turned on and ours all of us lost it.
>> We lost it again this week.
>> Oh, really?
>> Gorgeous day.
>> That's random.
>> I don't know.
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