To benefit every student, family, and staff member – and the entire Douglas County community – the Castle Rock Town Council on Tuesday expressed its support for the Douglas County Schools’ ballot initiatives 5A (Mill Levy Override) and 5B (Bond Issue).
Council voted to pass a resolution of support (approved 6-1, For: Mayor Jason Gray, Mayor Pro Tem Kevin Bracken and Councilmembers Ryan Hollingshead, Desiree LaFleur, Caryn Johnson and Tim Dietz; Opposed: Councilmember Laura Cavey), which in reference to the Mill Levy Override said:
“Unlike neighboring school districts, the Douglas County School District … receives substantially less Mill Levy Override funding than it is allowed to receive under state law, resulting in a local funding gap that has significantly and negatively impacted the district’s ability to offer competitive wages to all of its staff and teachers; … by approving an annual increase in the District’s Mill Levy Override of $60 million, voters would enable the District to make compensation more competitive for District teachers and staff.”
With regard to the Bond Issue, the resolution went on to say: “It is our collective responsibility, as a community, to build and maintain schools through local taxes … and, as such (the School District), is seeking the authority to issue $450 million in District bonds … (which) will also be used to fund the construction of three new elementary schools,” including one in Castle Rock’s Crystal Valley area, per School District materials on the topic.
Majority voter support from throughout the School District would be needed to pass these items in next month’s election, which will be conducted by mail ballot. Ballots are being mailed in mid-October to registered voters and are due in no later than 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 8.
Among other ballot items, Castle Rock voters will also be voting for Castle Rock Mayor, and those in Election Districts 3 and 5 will be voting on a Town Council member. Visit CRgov.com/2022Election for additional details.
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