June 26, 2014 Jefferson County, Colorado | Volume 10, Issue 4 A publication of
arvadapress.com
Bidding on PUTTING OUT FIRES the ballot Merchant association creates Business Improvement District in Olde Town By Crystal Anderson
canderson@colorado communitymedia.com
Above, while students from the fire academy look on, Mary Anne Cervantes practices how to fire a hose onto a target with her group and help from Arvada firefighter Derrick Varela. At right, Jonathan Gore, and his teammates, Xavier Barnes, Austin Rodriguez and Scott Shaffer, practices spraying a target with the help of frefighter Allegra SisnarosRoluti.
Photos By Crystal anderson
Adopting an increase in funding Jeffco Board of Education adopts the 2014-2015 budget By Crystal Anderson
canderson@colorado communitymedia.com Debates over charters schools and kindergarten funding created tension over the adoption of the 2014-2015 budget. On June 19, the Jefferson County Board of Education majority (John Newkirk, Julie Williams and Ken Witt) voted 3-2 to adopt the $1 billion budget for the 2014-2015 school year. Led by the majority, the board made two key changes, giving an additional $4.8 million to the teacher compensation placeholder and $1.85 million to charter school equalization, prior to adopting the budget. This year, Jeffco’s budget received a 3.2 percent increase
from last year’s $952 million. Moving into this next school year, the district will spend nearly $650 million for general fund expenditures and other uses, which is an increase of approximately $25 million from last year. Of that, approximately 79 percent of the general fund is used toward compensation, which with the additional $4.8 million given toward a 2.5 percent step increase for teachers, totals $520,420,700. “They (the board majority) came back on the $18.2 (million) for compensation,” said board member Lesley Dahlkemper on the evening’s budget discussion. “I was ready to make a motion on that placeholder to $18.2, and that’s why it was terrific when Mr. Newkirk brought that forward.” The negotiated agreement between the Jefferson County Educators Association and the district is currently in the factfinding process. In the agree-
ment, negotiators wanted to see a step increase for all teachers, but the board majority wished to see performance measures applied prior, only offering raises to highly effective teachers. This measure increases the total compensation placeholder to $18.2 million from $13.4 million, which includes step increases for both educators and certified school employees. Along with compensation increases, the majority also proposed increasing charter school funding, increasing per-pupil funding closer to what other students in the district are funded at. For the 2014-2015 school year, charter schools will receive an additional $5.5 million, and more than $60 million in the general fund expenditures overall, an increase of nearly $7 million from the 2013-2014 school year. The board also voted 3-2 to not fund free full-day kinder-
garten or reduce kindergarten class sizes. The board members said lack of district-specific study on the effects of full-day kindergarten played into their decision. District staff said that the current feasibility of reducing kindergarten class sizes was unknown. Among the charter school equalization and teacher compensation, the board also placed around $3.8 million towards primary math and literacy goals. “I’m delighted that through this year we’ve been able to direct funding towards early literacy, early math, equalization of funding for every student of public schools in Jeffco and I’m delighted with the budget outcome,” Board president Ken Witt said. “It takes a lot of work, it takes impassioned people focusing on what they believe the priorities ought to be and coming together and eventually arriving at the right answers and the right conclusions.”
Over the last few years, Olde Town Arvada has become a thriving downtown scene and now it will become the Olde Town Business Improvement District (BID). “This is important because Olde Town has really, really, really busted out in the last few years,” said Historic Olde Town Arvada (HOTA) President Karen Miller. “We’re becoming more of a draw not just locally, but regionally.” The city council voted 7-0 on June 16 to establish the Olde Town BID as a partnership between Olde Town merchants and the city to help enhance the area. Commercial property owners within the BID boundaries will have a choice in November of whether to approve an 8.5 Mill Levy tax increase for all commercial properties within that area. Should it pass, the increase will generate up to $68,000 with a one-to-one match with the City of Arvada, generating a possible annual services budget of $136,000. Properties located within the area bordered by Yukon Street to the West, Wadsworth Boulevard to the east, the south side of Ralston Road and to the north of Grandview Avenue will be included in the BID. Residential properties, nonprofit organizations and churches are exempt from the BID. “It really was time for us (HOTA) to grow up and invest in ourselves,” Miller said “By doing the mill levy you have a steady stream of revenue.” Previously, HOTA was funded through a grant from the city, which helped take care of the maintenance, marketing and events. Two years ago the organization and the city decided to no longer use the grant and became entirely volunteer driven. Through the BID, the organization will have a larger budget and be able to focus on increasing revenues, and improving marketing and events; enhancing maintenance around the district; advocate for the district; increase safety protocols and improve public amenities. ”In a downtown like this you have to have a strong organization to give the district a unified voice, to care for the district, to market the district, to be an advocate for the district and you’ve got to have a stable revenue stream,” Miller said. This is the third time HOTA has attempted to gain the special district status, with previous attempts in 1990s. An improvement district was formed in the early 2000’s, but was later disbanded. “I think we’re in a great place to reinforce what’s already good there, and it’s taken a long time to get there,” said Councilman-At-Large Bob Fifer during the June 16 meeting. “For those who have been there a very long time and weathered through the many shades of Olde Town — it’s really blooming right now, and now’s the right time to do it.”
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