January 29, 2015 VOLU M E 9 1 | I S SUE 24
LakewoodSentinel.com J E F F E R S O N C O U N T Y, C O L O R A D O
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Measure tackles rebate plan Institute breaks down details of refund proposal By Amy Woodward
awoodward@colorado communitymedia.com State Senate President Bill Cadman, R-Colorado Springs, filed a bill that would mend some of the tax-refunding mechanisms outlined in the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights by refunding state tax money that is in excess of TABOR limits to the middle class. The important piece of legislation warrants further explanation, as adjustments to TABOR can often be complex. The Colorado Fiscal Institute, which provides analysis on fiscal and economic issues, assisted Colorado Community Media in analyzing Cadman’s bill, Senate Bill 1. According to the institute, the bill would repeal the current six-tier sales tax refund and implement a three-tier state sales tax refund system in which greater percentages in rebates would be given to individuals with an adjusted gross income (AGI) between $36,000 and $117,000. The Department of Revenue is charged with determining a “single percentage” for TABOR refunds that will cause the total amount of refunds to equal the amount of excess state revenue, factoring in the number of taxpayers within a tiered refund structure. The bill would require annual calculations of the adjusted gross income amounts based on the consumer price index. Under the bill’s proposed three tiers, the new mechanism imposed by SB1 has these impacts: Tier 1) AGI of $36,000 or less, the rebate will equal to $36,000 times the single percentage. Tier 2) AGI between $36,000 to $117,000 means the rebate amount would be the AGI times the single percentage. Tier 3) AGI in excess of $117,000, the rebate amount would be $117,000 times the single percentage. Under SB1, the earned income tax credit or EITC refund mechanism, which is more complex than the proposed change to the six-tier sales tax refund, would remain unchanged. SB1 also includes provisions that prohibits individuals convicted of certain misdemeanors and felonies from receiving the TABOR sales tax rebate, and requires the Department of Revenue to direct TABOR rebates to pay for court ordered restitution or court ordered child support for taxpayers with outstanding balances. “CFI still believes the best investment in the middle class is to restore funding for schools and colleges and to fix our crumbling roads,” said Carol Hedges, executive director of the Colorado Fiscal Institute. “But if voters said they wanted to keep the revenue above the cap, the new structure under Senate Bill 1 actually makes the rebate mechanism better.” State Sen. Andy Kerr, D-Lakewood, serves on both the Senate education and finance committees. He said he remains “vehemently neutral” on SB1 but warned of “politically expedient” legislation that only fixes current issues instead of looking ahead to more pressing funding gaps where K-12 and higher education are
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The site plan for the Denver Christian School campus. The school is still working on the sports fields and gyms. More photos are available at the Sentinel website. Courtesy image
School finds new home School updates facility with state of art tech By Clarke Reader
creader@colorado communitymedia.com In a little under a year, Denver Christian Schools has turned the former Qwest facility in southwest Lakewood into a highly developed and technologically state of the art campus for students in the metro area. The school, 3898 S. Teller St. in the Academy Park area, bought the 270,000-squarefoot building and 20.7-acre property for $7.6 million in an effort to consolidate its three campuses into one pre K-12 location. “We’re one of the longest sustained school systems in the front range. Our 100th birthday is on April 16 and we’re looking forward to spending the next 100 years in the south metro area,” said Todd K. Lanting, CEO of DCS. “Right now we have around 400 students but we’re expecting to increase by 20 to 30 percent by next fall.” While classes started this fall at its new
location, DCS still has a lot of growing to do. The school is in the middle of a $13 million capital campaign to raise the funds needed to finish its auditorium for fine arts, two gyms and sports fields. As the new kid on the block, the school and its staff has been doing outreach to the community to let them know they now have this option for the children by working with local churches and homeowners associations and plans to begin a charitable giving program soon. “Jesus said that we must love God by loving others and that’s the philosophy we bring to everything we do,” Lanting said. “We have these great facilities that we want to open and share with the community.” The way the school uses its space is part of what makes it unique — Lanting said that by keeping the existing Qwest facility building gave DCS design opportunities they wouldn’t have thought of otherwise. The facility features an atrium with a café, an enormous college-style dining area and stadium-seat seminar classrooms. There are also “break out spaces” that feature moveable furniture and interactive design elements to give students a place to have
hands-on learning. “The reaction of people who come here is to gasp. There are so many wonderful educational areas here for us to use,” Lanting added. “The two pillars of the education we offer is academic excellence and a biblical worldview.” One of the programs DCS is highlighting is Extend, which offers challenges to high ability students and works with those who need help. “We have all types of learners and our students our able to work closely with teachers,” said Deanne Dyk, director of Extend. “Kids can get lost in the system but here our students are really connected with the resources we have.” Lanting said DCS is just getting started and is eager for the community to come learn about the school and what it brings to the community. “People can see our amazing facility and all the potential,” he said. “We’re looking forward to serving our new community.” For more information and a virtual tour of the campus visit www.denverchristian. org.
Donation funds college expansion Community College receives large donation from local nonprofit By Crystal Anderson canderson@colorado communitymedia.com Two of Arvada’s key businesses came together to celebrate learning and health education in Arvada through one sizable donation. “We believe we’ve found an investment and opportunity to invest in our home city,” said Marla Williams, president of Arvada’s Community First Foundation. “To invest in our conviction, that mental health and wellness is best addressed
whole person, mind and body together ... that great opportunity is to invest in Red Rocks Community College.” On Jan. 21, Community First Foundation, a local philanthropic nonprofit, donated $1 million to Red Rocks Community College, to help fund the expansion of a 55,000 square foot Arvada Health Professions and Science building located at 5420 Miller St. “This takes us so much further,” said Red Rocks President, Michele Haney. “We are about 82 percent there ... so this helps us come and see it be a reality.” The $22.5 million project will triple the size of the campus while adding key programs such as, Nurse’s Aide, RN Refresher, Health Professional,
Red Rocks Community College administrators stand with Community First Foundation president and board member to receive $1 million for the expansion of their Arvada health campus. Courtesy photo Medical Assisting, Office Management, Phlebotomy Technician and Physician Assistant to the college’s growing selection of health courses. “It literally started out in a
mortuary on Wadsworth Boulevard,” said Arvada Mayor Marc Williams of Red Rocks’ Expansion continues on Page 20