The District is requesting a mill levy of 5.5 mills.  It will give enough funds to cover about 85 percent of our current transportation budget or over $180,000.  If this ballot is passed it will create a permanent fund for school transportation.  By Colorado Law, these funds cannot be used for anything other than transportation.  The District is asking for additional funds because the total transportation budget has increased 15 percent the past year.  The state reimbursement has remained unchanged for over 10 years.   The cost for bus replacement has risen 30 percent during the past 5 years.  The benefits of passing a transportation mill levy is savings to the schools general funds can be used to fund programs and facilities for our students.  It will cost a resident home with a market vale of %50,000 would see their school taxes raise by approximately $22.00 if this is passed.  The local residents will only be responsible for 40 percent of the cost.  Over 60 percent will be paid by a commercial business. 

My opinion on this mill levy is that, I really think it is a good idea.  But I don’t understand a few process, but what I do understand, I do think is a really good idea.  It will really help the school and the programs.  The kids can’t learn anything if they are not able to go out and experience it hands on, and so if we can’t do the trips because they have to cut down the uses of the bus due to cost of fueling the buses, it will really not be much fun.  The sports kids work hard and they are not getting able to go to some of the tournaments because it is too far, so I think if we get this it will be a really good idea.   But it could get pretty costly for some people.  If you have some people who just built a house and is worth some money and they are have a big family to raise and some payments and all the other stuff, it could cause some issues.  But other than that I think it is a really good idea and people should definitely vote yes for this, unless they want to start taking their kids to school and help save some money for the school.