D29460A6B72574078725849A0068B5AA Hearing Summary

Representative Esgar and Senator Rankin, Joint Budget Committee (JBC) members, came to the table to provide an update on school finance issues. The JBC presentation can be found here: http://leg.colorado.gov/sites/default/files/images/committees/2017/tpml.jbcatsfincmte.10212019_1.pdf. Representative Esgar discussed mill levies assessed in school districts. Each district has its mill levy set each year in statute. She provided an overview of FY 2019-20 total program mill levies across the state and reviewed how the state has come to have so many local mill levy overrides.

Representative Esgar stated that the goal of the JBC is to improve equity between taxpayers and equity between school districts, through a uniform total program mill levy proposal. She discussed the decline in the local share of K-12 education costs versus the increase in the state share. Senator Rankin discussed the possibility of creating a uniform mill levy statewide and the constitutional provisions, such as the Taxpayer's Bill of Rights (TABOR) and the Gallagher Amendment, that constrain education funding. Senator Rankin and Representative Esgar responded to questions from the committee.

Craig Harper, JBC staff, came to the table to respond to committee questions regarding the proposal of creating a statewide uniform mill levy. The committee asked questions of Mr. Harper, Rep. Esgar, and Senator Rankin regarding how the mill levy equity proposal would impact certain types of districts.

Committee discussion continued.