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September 4, 2014 VOLU M E 2 | I SS UE 4 | F R E E
CastlePinesNewsPress.net D O U G L A S C O U N T Y, C O L O R A D O
A publication of
Voters say yes to ballot questions Measure expanding open carry approved by 151 votes By Mike DiFerdinando and Chris Rotar Staff writers
A horse at Wood Run Farm in Castle Rock wears a fly shield to protect against flies that carry the vesicular stomatitis virus that has spread across Colorado. Photo by Mike DiFerdinando
Virus spreads among horses, livestock Vesicular stomatitis now confirmed in eight counties By Mike DiFerdinando
mdiferdinando @coloradocommunitymedia.com P O W E R E D
B Y
ShopLocal Colorado.com F IND AL L OF OU R ADV ERTIS ER S O NL INE
P L E AS E S UPPORT OUR LOCAL ADVE RTI SER S FOR T HE I R CONTR IBUTION TO K EE PI NG OU R C OMMUNIT Y CONNECTED
When it comes to protecting animals from the vesicular stomatitis virus that is spreading across the state, cleanliness is key, officials say. The virus, spread primarily by flies, causes oral blisters and painful sores that can lead to difficulty eating and drinking. VSV has affected horses and livestock in eight Colorado counties, including Douglas County, and 205 properties statewide are under quarantine. As of Aug. 27, there have been 222 properties quarantined, but 17 have been released, according to the Colorado Department of Agriculture’s State Veterinarian’s Office. The majority of cases have been located in Boulder and Jefferson counties. There has only been
TIPS FOR LIVESTOCK OWNERS • Strict fly control is an important factor to inhibit the transmission of the disease. • Avoid transferring feeding equipment, cleaning tools or health care equipment from other herds. • Colorado veterinarians and livestock owners should contact the state of destination when moving livestock across state lines to ensure that all import requirements are met. A list of contact information for all state veterinarians’ offices is available at www. colorado.gov/ag/animals. Click on “Import Requirements.” • Colorado fairs, livestock exhibitions, and rodeos may institute new entry requirements based on the extent and severity of the current VSV outbreak. Certificates of Veterinary Inspection issued within 2-5 days prior to an event can be beneficial to reduce risks. Be sure to stay informed of any new livestock event requirements. • During an event, important VSV prevention procedures include minimizing the sharing of water and feed/equipment, applying insect repellent daily (especially to the ears), and closely observing animals for signs of VSV. • If moving livestock internationally please contact the USDA APHIS VSV Colorado office at 303-231-5385 to determine if there are any movement restrictions or testing requirements for VSV.
Horse continues on Page 12
Education funding all over the map G ET SOCIAL WITH US
Formula factors in size of district, student poverty By Jane Reuter
jreuter@coloradocommunitymedia.com
P LE AS E R ECYCLE T HIS COPY
The Douglas County School Board long has expressed dissatisfaction with the state’s education funding, saying county residents shoulder an unfair tax burden. It is not alone in concerns about K-12 funding. A Colorado Department of Education official said the department’s complex formula for school districts has changed little in 20 years, but is designed to factor in changes within districts. “We’ve been using this formula since 1994. There have been some little tweaks around the edges, but there haven’t been significant changes,” said Leanne Emm, the CDE’s assistant commissioner for school finance. “I think it depends on what kind of district you live in whether you like the formula or not. “But the formula does adjust, or attempts to adjust, for the demographics within individual districts.” What has changed since 1994 — and angered
WHAT THEY’RE GETTING Estimated 2014-15 per-pupil funding for a sampling of Colorado school districts (after the negative factor): District Amount Branson $6,557 (lowest in state) Lewis-Palmer $6,661 Douglas $6,752 Littleton $6,758 Jeffco $6,842 Cherry Creek $6,947 Pawnee $15,567 (highest in state)
school leaders statewide — is a recession-driven legislative cut to K-12 funding called the negative factor. Since 2010, it has reduced K-12 funding statewide by about $1 billion annually. Under Colorado’s formula, funding for every district starts at the same amount. For 2014-15, that base per-pupil funding is $6,121. From there, district-specific calculations are made, based mostly on cost of living, size of the district and number of students living in poverty. Funding continues on Page 12
After almost a year of discussion and more than a week of waiting for the results of a special election, Castle Rock has an answer when it comes to the open carry of firearms in town-owned and run facilities. At least temporarily. Town voters said yes to both measures on the ballot in the Aug. 19 special election. That means openly carrying a firearm in all town-owned parks and facilities — except for municipal court — became legal after a judge certified the election results Aug. 29. It also means any future restrictions on the open carry of guns will be decided by Castle Rock voters. The passage of Ballot Measure A came by a narrow margin, with 50.8 percent of voters saying yes. The outcome, by a 151vote margin, removes the town manager’s authority to restrict open carry on town property, as had been the case since 2003, and puts into effect an ordinance passed by town council in January that lifts the ban on the practice. The repeal was set to go into effect Feb. 28, but a collection of 2,657 signatures on a referendum presented to town council Feb. 26 delayed the process. As a result of the referendum, on April 14 the council voted to hold a special election on the issue. Language for a second ballot measure was then approved June 17 after a 6-1 council vote. Chip Wilson voted against. Ballot Measure B, which puts any future changes to gun laws in the hands of town residents, passed easily, with 71.2 percent voting yes. More than 9,400 of the 32,000 ballots mailed to voters were returned — the most ever in a Town of Castle Rock election. A statewide pro-Second Amendment group lauded the results of the election and the turnout. “This is a big win for gun rights in Colorado,” Luke Wagner, president of the Colorado Second Amendment Association, said in a news release. “It was yet another testament to the power of citizen involvement in their local political processes.” Leading up to Election Day, there was vocal opposition by the group Concerned Citizens of Castle Rock and others to the passage of Ballot Measure A. Concerns were expressed about safety if open carry were to be expanded, and some deemed the ballot language to be confusing and Open Carry continues on Page 12
VOTING RESULTS Measure A Yes: 4,737 (50.8 percent) No: 4,586 (49.2 percent) Measure B Yes: 6,610 (71.2 percent) No: 2,679 (28.8 percent)