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School board incumbents prepare for new year
By Holly Cook
With a budget crisis looming over their heads and a tough year already behind them, one might wonder why term-limited Littleton Public Schools board of education members Bob Colwell, Renee Howell and Sue Chandler are coming back for more.
“I like that part of my life,” said Colwell, the board president. “I’ve been involved in education for years and I feel like I can bring something to the table when it comes to tough decisions.”
Also, no other community members stepped up to run against the three incumbents in an election.
This academic year, tough decisions will come in the form of budget, budget, budget, according to Colwell.
“It’s going to be the biggest issue for the next couple of years,” he said.
District officials are preparing for massive cuts next year, which could reach as much as $200 million, according to the Gov. Bill Ritter’s budget proposal.
And budget planning for 2011-12 and beyond is further complicated by what is being called the “Funding Cliff,” district officials said.
At the current rate of spending, the State Education Fund will be bankrupt in one or two years. Amendment 23, which guarantees that K-12 education will receive annual increases of inflation plus 1 percent, sunsets in 2011.
All federal stimulus funds to Colorado and to LPS will be gone in 2011.
Referendum C, passed by Colorado voters in 2005, allowed for a timeout from the revenue limits of the Taxpayer's Bill of Rights (TABOR). This timeout allows Colorado to keep all of the revenue it brings in for five years. Referendum C sunsets in 2011, and TABOR's revenue collection limits will be in place again.
To make matters worse in Littleton, declining enrollment numbers the last few years have put them in a position to receive less funding per pupil — even though numbers leveled out this year.
“The economic downturn and smaller student populations exacerbate funding challenges for LPS,” the district’s Web site reads.
What’s more, the amount the district has to pay into teacher pension plans has increased this year, and will continue to increase by 0.9 percent every year.
Then, there’s health insurance costs.
“Providing insurance to our employees has always been an issue,” Colwell said. Last year, the district was able to contain costs but Colwell is doubtful that will be the case this year.
He’s also doubtful that budget cuts will be kept out of the classrooms.
“We’ve made major cuts to our Education Services Center in prior years to keep them out of the classroom but I’m not sure it’s going to be possible in the future,” he said. “Our business is 85 percent people.”
As an accountant, Colwell says he’s prepared to deal with the numbers. He’s also confident in the in-house budget team at the district and his fellow board members.
“We’re a cohesive bunch,” he said about the board. “That’s part of the reason the three of us are coming back. We work well together.”
He also attributes the board’s success to Superintendent Scott Murphy.
“He’s our only employee. We hire him and he hires everybody else. He’s well-known at the Capitol and brings to a lot to the table about finance.”
“I like that part of my life,” said Colwell, the board president. “I’ve been involved in education for years and I feel like I can bring something to the table when it comes to tough decisions.”
Also, no other community members stepped up to run against the three incumbents in an election.
This academic year, tough decisions will come in the form of budget, budget, budget, according to Colwell.
“It’s going to be the biggest issue for the next couple of years,” he said.
District officials are preparing for massive cuts next year, which could reach as much as $200 million, according to the Gov. Bill Ritter’s budget proposal.
And budget planning for 2011-12 and beyond is further complicated by what is being called the “Funding Cliff,” district officials said.
At the current rate of spending, the State Education Fund will be bankrupt in one or two years. Amendment 23, which guarantees that K-12 education will receive annual increases of inflation plus 1 percent, sunsets in 2011.
All federal stimulus funds to Colorado and to LPS will be gone in 2011.
Referendum C, passed by Colorado voters in 2005, allowed for a timeout from the revenue limits of the Taxpayer's Bill of Rights (TABOR). This timeout allows Colorado to keep all of the revenue it brings in for five years. Referendum C sunsets in 2011, and TABOR's revenue collection limits will be in place again.
To make matters worse in Littleton, declining enrollment numbers the last few years have put them in a position to receive less funding per pupil — even though numbers leveled out this year.
“The economic downturn and smaller student populations exacerbate funding challenges for LPS,” the district’s Web site reads.
What’s more, the amount the district has to pay into teacher pension plans has increased this year, and will continue to increase by 0.9 percent every year.
Then, there’s health insurance costs.
“Providing insurance to our employees has always been an issue,” Colwell said. Last year, the district was able to contain costs but Colwell is doubtful that will be the case this year.
He’s also doubtful that budget cuts will be kept out of the classrooms.
“We’ve made major cuts to our Education Services Center in prior years to keep them out of the classroom but I’m not sure it’s going to be possible in the future,” he said. “Our business is 85 percent people.”
As an accountant, Colwell says he’s prepared to deal with the numbers. He’s also confident in the in-house budget team at the district and his fellow board members.
“We’re a cohesive bunch,” he said about the board. “That’s part of the reason the three of us are coming back. We work well together.”
He also attributes the board’s success to Superintendent Scott Murphy.
“He’s our only employee. We hire him and he hires everybody else. He’s well-known at the Capitol and brings to a lot to the table about finance.”
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