Mill Levy OverrideReferred Measure 3A

Shall taxes on people’s property (land, house or business) in Plateau Valley School District 50 be increased for a total of $350,000 each year? The money collected would be used in these ways and only in Plateau Valley School District 50:

To buy new textbooks and other teaching materials

To repair or replace school equipment and other things like carpets, vehicles, etc.  

To buy technology like computersTo hire teachers and help keep class sizes smallTo add new programs that will improve education

What is the proposed ballot issue?

Raise property taxes on peoples’ property (house, land, or business) only in School District 50

Raise $350,000 each year

What is proposed?

• To buy new textbooks and other teaching materials

•To repair or replace school equipment and other things like carpets, vehicles, etc.  

• To buy technology like computers•To hire teachers and help keep class sizes small

•To add new programs that will improve education

These funds will be used for but not limited to:

It will raise property taxes on people who own property (house, land, or business) in Plateau Valley.

It will depend on the value of individual’s or business owner’s property.

The monthly tax impact is about $1.04 per $100,000 of a home’s market value each month.    

How much will it cost?

How much would 3A cost me for if I own a home?

For every $100,000 of assessed residential property value:

• $12.45/year OR• $1.04/monthThat’s enough for a chicken sandwich from Burger King

Home Value Cost to Homeowner

$100,000 $12.45 $200,000 $24.90 $300,000 $37.35 $400,000 $49.80 $500,000 $62.25

How much would 3A cost me if I own a business?For every $100,000 of assessed

commercial property value:◦$45.36/year OR◦$3.78/month

That’s enough for one gallon of gas

Business Value Cost to Business Owner$100,000 $45.36 $200,000 $90.72 $300,000 $136.08 $400,000 $181.44 $500,000 $226.80

How much would 3A cost me if I own agricultural land?

For every 100 acres of flood-irrigated agricultural land:◦$20.00/year

That’s enough for 5 quarts of oil

Amount of Flood Irrigated Agricultural Land Cost to Landowner

100 acres $20.00

500 acres $100.00

1000 acres $200.00

Who pays taxes in PV School District?

Locals pay less than 14% of local tax costs This means that local taxpayers (those who live in the PV school

district) will pay less than $49,000 of the $350,000 for a mill levy override

Companies located outside of Plateau Valley, most of which are from outside of Colorado, pay over 86% of local tax costs

This means that for every dollar locals pay, non-local companies pay $6 Amount

Paid By Locals

Amount Paid by

Nonlocals

Are schools funded like other local entities? NO

Other local entities receive money based entirely on the assessed value of Plateau ValleyAssessed value is how much the assessors office thinks the

land, structures, businesses and minerals in Plateau Valley are worth

For every mill of funding a local entity gets, they now receive $223,767

This means that if the assessed value of Plateau Valley goes up, local entity’s funding increases

Instead, school districts receive money solely based on the number of students attending the school and the per pupil funding, which is decided on by the state (School Finance Act of 1994)For every student attending PVSD50, Plateau Valley Schools

now receive about $7,000 from local and state taxesThis means that if the assessed value of Plateau Valley goes

up, the school’s funding does not

This is what has happened to the school budget in the past few years.

2009 2010 2011 2012 2013$3,400,000

$3,500,000

$3,600,000

$3,700,000

$3,800,000

$3,900,000

$4,000,000

$4,100,000

$4,200,000

$4,067,642

$3,991,024

$3,830,740

$3,693,549

$3,643,466

Sch

oo

l B

ud

get

What will PVSD50 use the money for?PURCHASE NEW TEXTBOOKS AND INSTRUCTIONAL

MATERIALSREPAIR, RENOVATE OR REPLACE AGING OR WORN

OUT SCHOOL EQUIPMENT AND FACILITIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, ROOFING,

CARPETS, VEHICLES AND HEATING AND COOLING UNITS

PURCHASE TECHNOLOGY RESOURCES TO MEET 21ST CENTURY INSTRUCTIONAL NEEDS

RECRUIT, TRAIN AND KEEP HIGH QUALITY TEACHERS AND MAINTAIN SMALL CLASS SIZES FOR

STUDENTSDEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT NEW PROGRAMS TO

IMPROVE EDUCATIONAL ACHIEVEMENT OF STUDENTS

Can the state take money generated by 3A?

NoNeither can the Federal

GovernmentThis money stays with the

local school districtWhat’s more, locals pay less

than 1/7th of the money

Amount Paid by Locals Amount Paid by Nonlocals

School District 50 has received 10.4% less funding from the State of Colorado since 2009.

To help minimize the impact of the cuts and anticipated future reductions in state funding.

Why did the school board put this on the ballot?

What do other people think?

In a recent survey of Plateau Valley residents, two thirds of respondents wanted a mill levy override

Mill Levy68%

More Cuts33%

Do People Want More Cuts To Our Schools or a Mill

Levy Override?

Schools can be run using less money so there is no need to raise taxes.

Adding taxes at this point will make it difficult for people to spend money elsewhere and to help the economy.

Businesses are already having a tough time and will do worse with an added tax burden.

What do those who oppose this say?

The funding that has been cut already has made it difficult to effectively teach students what is required to be taught.

Paying now to educate students will help local businesses in the long run by creating an educated workforce which will help attract businesses to the area.

Good schools attract people to live in the area which can help the local economy.

What do those in favor of this measure say?

Lessons on property taxes

& mill levies

Property taxes are the taxes the owner of the property is required to pay to support the

government where the property is located.

The property tax rate is usually given as a percentage of the value of the property. This

is known as the mill levy.

Forms of property tax can vary depending on the location.

What are Property Taxes?

No.

Income taxes are based on how much money you earn.

Property taxes are based on the value of the property you own.

Are Property Taxes the same as Income Taxes?

Land Improvements to land (such as buildings) Personal property (such as boats and RVs) Real property (also called real estate) means the

combination of land and improvements. This would be most homes.

Under a property tax system, the state requires an appraisal of the monetary value of each property, and tax is assessed in proportion to that value.

There are three types of property:

The actual value is the amount it is estimated it could be sold for, called the market value. The actual value is based on sales that occurred within the last 18 month period. Those sales indicate the market value of specific types of properties.

For other nonresidential types of properties or others of an unusual nature (of which there are few), other methods are used.

How is property value determined?

The amount of tax raised can't automatically be adjusted to account for inflation or increased enrollment. Thus, school districts must go back to the voters on a regular basis to ask to override the current mill levy in order to keep up with inflation and growth.

Colorado taxes provide some funds for school districts. The state law directs how school districts can get additional funds for operating schools.

School districts are allowed to add operational funds by asking voters to raise or override their mill levy.

When a school district has capital needs, such as updating buildings or constructing new buildings, the funding mechanism is a bond issue. Bond issue funds can NOT be used for operational expenses, which include salaries.

Can school districts just raise taxes?

Mill levies are set each year by taxing authorities such as school districts, the county, cities, fire, water and sanitation districts, and others.

These entities provide tax-supported services and are listed on a tax notice.

The County Assessor then sets the assessment rate to cover those services.

Who sets the mill levy?

Property Taxes = Actual Value x Assessment Rate x Mill

Levy

The assessment rate on residential properties is a little less than 8% in Mesa County.

The assessment rate on nonresidential properties is fixed by law at 29%. (This does not include agricultural land)

How are property taxes calculated?

For a home valued about $100,000 the proposed increase of 7 mills would be

$100,000 x 8% assessment x 1.5 millswhich is

$100,000 x .08 x .0015 = $12.45 in new taxes per year or $1.04 per month

Example 1:

For a home valued about $150,000 the proposed increase of 7 mills would be

$150,000 x 8% assessment x 7 millswhich is

$150,000 x .08 x .007 = $84 in new taxes per year or $7 per month

Example 2:

Determine your home value H:

$ H x 8% assessment x 1.5 millsor

$ H x .08 x .007 = $____ in new taxes per year (divide by 12 for monthly amount)

Figure your own: