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March 18, 2021
JEFFERSON COUNTY, COLORADO
A publication of
JeffcoTranscript.com
VOLUME 37 | ISSUE 36
SNOW IT GOES
Jeffco schools looking at $54M in cuts for 2021-22 What might be on the chopping block and how cuts could affect your kids’ school BY BOB WOOLEY BWOOLEY@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
for at least the last five years. The percentage of stolen vehicles recovered in 2020 is approximately 48% compared to a 74% recovery rate in 2019. Attempted motor vehicle thefts were also up over the previous year. According to the statistics, more cars were stolen between the hours of 6- 9 p.m. than at any other time of day. Robbery, burglary, larceny (theft) and fraud cases were on
At a recent Jeffco School Board meeting, Interim Chief Financial Officer, Nicole Stewart, gave a presentation asking board members for input on where to make needed cuts in the 2021-22 budget. The District, Stewart said, is looking at the need to make $54 million in reductions in order to balance the budget. She said district staff has identified most of the reductions but needed the board’s input on finding approximately $12 million in additional cuts. COVID is the culprit. “The $54 million reduction primarily is from the increase in the Budget Stabilization factor from the State. An increase in the BS factor, decreases school districts funding. This was a direct result of COVID,” Stewart said. “Earlier in the session, it was proposed that we would be seeing an increase in funding, then when the pandemic hit, it dramatically shifted to a significant decrease. Instead of making reductions in the 2020-21 school year as a result of the increase
SEE CRIME, P9
SEE SCHOOLS, P11
A snowman on Washington Avenue in Golden.
COURTESY OF CORI ANNE
Jeffco cities saw 2020 crime numbers rise Lakewood and Wheat Ridge crime rose in several categories despite the pandemic BY BOB WOOLEY BWOOLEY@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Lakewood saw an increase in violent crime last year, with num-
bers climbing from 911 in 2019, to 950 in 2020, according to a state crime tracking website funded by the Colorado Auto Theft Prevention Authority. Violent Crime consists of Murder, Non-Consensual Sex Offenses, Aggravated Assault and Robbery. Auto thefts also increased dramatically, from a reported 765 in 2019, to 1209 in 2020. In fact, the city’s 2020 auto theft numbers were higher than they’ve been
INSIDE: VOICES: PAGE 14 | LIFE: PAGE 16 | CALENDAR: PAGE 19 | SPORTS: PAGE 26
APOLOGIES
Due to the recent heavy snowfall, delivery of this week’s paper may have been delayed