Week of June 16, 2022
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DOUGLAS COUNTY, COLORADO
A publication of
CastlePinesNewsPress.net
VOLUME 9 | ISSUE 43
Poll finds lack of support for school funding Committee recommends board ask in November anyway BY ELLIOTT WENZLER EWENZLER@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
A poll of Douglas County voters showed that less than 40% of the community is willing to approve new funding measures for the
school district in an election this November. But an ad hoc committee formed to explore the issue thinks the school board should still try. “We cannot guarantee that a bond in 2022 and a mill in 2022 will pass. As a matter of fact there is a significant chance that it will not,” said Brad Geiger, a committee member who presented the findings to the school board. “But if we don’t do it now, when do we?” The 22-person Mill Bond Explor-
atory Committee, made up of what the group calls “multi-partisan” members, outlined several urgent funding needs for the district, including building maintenance, expansion of schools, competitive compensation, staffing shortages and security measures. “I’m not going to tell you that the district will fall off a cliff if we don’t find more funding in the next two years,” Geiger said. “But I will tell you that these needs will grow, they will get worse and the impacts
2022 Parker Days a success
will affect our students, our staff and our community.” The 2021-22 Master Capital Plan identifies between $765 million and $847 million in capital projects, including $423 million for new construction. One of the most pressing issues Geiger identified is growth in student populations. In five years, Coyote Creek Elementary School, which serves Sterling Ranch, could SEE FUNDING, P8
Primary elections run through June 28 Ballots have been mailed to households BY THELMA GRIMES TGRIMES@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
stage crowd ever,” said chamber CEO TJ Sullivan. “We already have good ideas for 2023 improvements, and the good news is that this year’s
Election season is underway and Colorado voters started receiving ballots in the mail earlier this month for the June 28 primary. There are not a lot of contested races in Arapahoe and Douglas counties, but there are a few to watch for with high importance. In Douglas County nothing can be hotter than the Republicans battling it out for the job of sheriff. Current Sheriff Tony Spurlock has termed out at eight years. With no Democrat running for the four-year term, the winner in the Republican battle will likely sail through to the position. Running on the Republican ticket
SEE PARKER, P27
SEE ELECTION, P10
Carnival Hill featured dozens of rides during the June 10 to 12 Parker Days festival. STAFF REPORT
Parker Days returned to town on June 10, bringing plenty of rides and entertainment for the region.
Hosted by the Parker Chamber of Commerce, the event drew in about 300,000 people. “The strategy for more fun, regional bands paid off beautifully. We had the biggest Sunday main
PHOTO BY ELLIOTT WENZLER
Dream Big Dreams...
INSIDE: VOICES: PAGE 14 | LIFE: PAGE 16 | CALENDAR: PAGE 19 | SPORTS: PAGE 26
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