colorado school district may ask voters for capital improvement funding

Looking at the need for upgrading security systems at all of its schools, as well as expanding its athletic, childcare, and performing arts facilities, members of the Aspen School Board are contemplating putting on this November’s ballot a bond to pay for it all.

What will probably be a $30 million bond will also fund the construction of a new bus barn, while allowing the district to build new employee housing. Those housing units will go up on the more than 40 properties that the Aspen School District owns in the area.

District officials are particularly concerned about the costs of any new facility construction or upgrade projects given that they expect to see a $3 million decline in revenue coming from Colorado’s School Finance Act.

That legislation, passed in 1994, sends money to Colorado’s school districts based upon the amount of tax revenue generated by those districts.

The last time voters in the Aspen School District decided on a facility funding issue was in 2005 when a $33 million bond was approved. That bond ended up paying for the construction of the Aspen Middle School, as well as additions to the Aspen Elementary School and Aspen High School.
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By law, the Aspen school board must decide by July 2 whether to approve a bond proposal for the November election.

​By Garry Boulard

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