On August 8th the Archuleta School Board unanimously referred a question to the November 2023 ballot asking if voters would like to extend the 2018 Mill Levy Override that currently funds teacher and staff salaries as well as provides additional funding for security.

The question the Board referred to in the November 2023 ballot reads:

WITHOUT INCREASING TAXES, SHALL ARCHULETA COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 50JT BE AUTHORIZED TO EXTEND THE $1.7 MILLION ANNUAL TAX APPROVED BY THE VOTERS IN 2018 SCHEDULED TO EXPIRE IN 2025, TO BE DEPOSITED IN THE GENERAL FUND AND USED FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO:

• RECRUITING AND RETAINING HIGHLY QUALIFIED TEACHERS AND STAFF, AND
• PROVIDING SCHOOL SAFETY, SECURITY, AND MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT FOR STUDENTS;

WHICH REVENUE FROM THE PERMANENT EXTENSION IS FOR GENERAL FUND PURPOSES PURSUANT TO AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 22-54-108, C.R.S.; AND SHALL THE DISTRICT BE AUTHORIZED TO COLLECT, RETAIN AND SPEND ALL REVENUES FROM SUCH TAXES AND THE EARNINGS FROM THE INVESTMENT OF SUCH REVENUES AS A VOTER APPROVED REVENUE CHANGE AND AN EXCEPTION TO THE LIMITS WHICH WOULD OTHERWISE APPLY UNDER ARTICLE X, SECTION 20 OF THE COLORADO CONSTITUTION?

If voters approve the ballot question, the $1.7 million Mill Levy Override (MLO) that voters approved in 2018 would be permanently continued. If voters do not approve the ballot question, the MLO will end in 2025. The 2018 ballot question was approved by 61% of the District’s voters.

All registered voters who live within the Archuleta School District boundaries will see this question on the ballot they receive in the mail in mid-October.

2018 Ballot Question

ARCHULETA COUNTY
SCHOOL DISTRICT 50 JT

BALLOT ISSUE 5A

GENERAL FUND OVERRIDE

SHALL ARCHULETA COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT NO 50 JT TAXES BE INCREASED BY $1.7 MILLION ANNUALLY FOR A LIMITED SEVEN YEAR PERIOD (COMMENCING IN COLLECTION YEAR 2019 AND ENDING AFTER COLLECTION YEAR 2025) WHICH MONEYS SHALL BE USED TO:

• RECRUIT AND RETAIN HIGHLY QUALIFIED TEACHERS AND STAFF
• FUND FULL TIME SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS FOR SAFETY
• FUND FULL DAY KINDERGARTEN, AND
• PROVIDE REQUIRED FUNDING FOR PAGOSA PEAK OPEN SCHOOL TO INCREASE STAFF SALARIES, SUPPLEMENT FULL DAY KINDERGARTEN AND IMPROVE SCHOOL SAFETY

THROUGH A PROPERTY TAX OVERRIDE MILL LEVY TO BE IMPOSED AT A RATE SUFFICIENT TO PRODUCE THE AMOUNT SET FORTH ABOVE TO BE DEPOSITED INTO THE GENERAL FUND OF THE DISTRICT, AND TO BE IN ADDITION TO THE PROPERTY TAXES THAT OTHERWISE WOULD BE LEVIED FOR THE GENERAL FUND?

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a mill levy override?

It is when voters pass a ballot initiative to provide additional money to local schools. The money comes from a property tax increase and the dollars are used for on-going expenses such as salaries.

How much does it cost me?

You can find the amount on your property tax bill or via the Archuleta County Assessor’s website here. The amount is based on your assessed home value so it will be different for everyone.

What happens when the MLO ends in 2025?

Voters would need to reauthorize the MLO or the funding for additional salary, SROs, and Pagosa Peak Open School would go away.

Archuleta and Hinsdale County results from the November 6, 2018 election show ballot issue 5A passed with 61% of voter approval.  

It provides $1.7 million annually until 2025 to fund the following:

• Recruit and retain highly qualified teachers and staff
• Fund full time school resource officers for safety
• Fund full day kindergarten 
• Provide required funding for Pagosa Peak Open School to increase staff salaries, supplement full day kindergarten, and improve school safety (this is a state mandated formula and you can see more details here)

In 2019, the Archuleta School Board voted to no longer collect the portion of the tax necessary to fund full day kindergarten as the State of Colorado started paying for 100% of the cost of full day kindergarten. (Here is the Board resolution)

Annual Spending