Public School Strong Adams 12

As you well know, Colorado does not fund its pubilc schools adequately.  In fact, the Adams 12 School District has faced tough budgets year after year -- including a loss of $493 million in funding from 2009-2024 because of the Budget Stabilization Factor. Without a major change in Colorado's fiscal situation, it will be even worse next year. But in the midst of this urgency there is great opportunity.  If Colorado voters pass two ballot measures – Cut the Ropes (SB26-135) and Protect Colorado's Future (Initiative 195) – today's elementary students could actually graduate from fully funded high schools. • "Cut the Ropes" will raise the current state spending limit, allowing our state to use the money it already collects for K-12 schools without raising taxes for anyone. • Protect Colorado's Future will increase funding for public schools by at least $700 million annually, including $27 million for Adams 12, by creating a graduated income tax that lowers taxes for 99.7% of Adams County taxpayers. As our elected officials, you have the opportunity to take a critcal leadership role in making sure these measures are both on the ballot and that they will both pass. We ask you to endorse both measures as soon as possible to send a message to the Adams 12 and Colorado community: fully funded public schools that meet the needs of every student are within Colorado's reach, even giving tax cuts to over 97% of Colorado taxpayers.  We just need the courage to choose that path.

Vibrant, high-quality public schools are the key to thriving communities like ours.  Signing this petition – and urging others to sign as well – is an easy and effective way to get our school board to step up and help us protect public education from this attack. This measure would hurt public schools and threaten their funding. Public schools need more teachers, better teacher pay, and smaller class sizes. This measure will only make it harder to fund those improvements by opening the door to taking money from public schools—which serve 95% of Colorado students—to fund private schools.